Photocatalytic inactivation of Flavobacterium and E. coli in water by a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) fed with suspended/immobilised TiO2 medium.

A photocatalytic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) was built at laboratory scale to inactivate two environmental bacteria strains (Flavobacterium and E. coli) in tap water. Several parameters were found to impact reactor efficiency. Bacterial initial concentration is an important factor in inactivation rate. After 30 minutes of irradiation at 10(8)-10(9) CFU mL(-1) starting concentration, a >5 log reduction was achieved while at 10(4)-10(6) CFU mL(-1) only a 2 log reduction was observed. Water hardness and pH have an important influence on the photocatalytic inactivation process. Soft water, with low Ca(+2) and Mg(+2) at low pH approximately 5.3 resulted in increased inactivation of Flavobacterium reaching >6 orders of magnitude reduction. E. coli and Flavobacterium at pH 5 were inactivated by 3 logs more as compared to pH 7 under similar conditions. pH below TiO2 isoelectric point (approximately 5.6) supports better contact between bacteria and anatase particles resulting in superior inactivation. TiO2 powder suspension was compared with immobilised powder in sol-gel coated glass beads in order to exclude the need for particles separation from the treated water. TiO2 suspension was more effective by 3 orders of magnitude when compared to coated glass beads. An interesting observation was found between the two bacterial strains based on their hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance. The more hydrophobic Flavobacterium compared to E. coli was inactivated photocatalytically by >3 logs more then E. coli in the first 30 minutes of irradiation interval. The results indicate the importance of the parameters involved in the contact between TiO2 particles and microorganisms that govern the successful inactivation rate in CSTR.

Trihalomethanes aqueous solutions sono-oxidation.

Ultrasonic (US) irradiation, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), Fenton's oxidation and the combination of the processes were investigated for destruction and removal of the following trihalomethanes (THMs) compounds from aqueous solutions: CHCl(3), CHBrCl(2), CHBr(2)Cl, CHBr(3), and CHI(3). H(2)O(2) had no significant effect on the THMs sonodegradation. The coupled US and Fenton processes did not affect the CHCl(3), CHBrCl(2), and CHBr(2)Cl sonolysis efficiency. Nevertheless, the sonodegradation of CHBr(3) was enhanced. CHI(3) was degraded by Fenton's oxidation rather than by the US irradiation during the sonication/Fenton treatment. The combination of sonication with H(2)O(2) or Fenton's reagent did not affect the mineralization of the THMs aqueous mixture.

Effect of various reaction parameters on THMs aqueous sonolysis.

Ultrasonic irradiation was investigated for destruction of the following THMs: CHCl(3), CHBrCl(2), CHBr(2)Cl, CHBr(3), and CHI(3). The effect of pH, temperature, and the organics initial concentration on the THMs sonodegradation at acoustic frequency of 20 kHz was studied. An increase of the solution temperature resulted in a faster sonodegradation rates. Initial aqueous solution pH, in the range from 3 to 10, was found to have little effect on the degradation of the THMs. The THMs sonolysis efficiency was reduced when the initial organic compounds concentration was increased from 10 mg l(-1) to 300 mg l(-1).

Sonochemical removal of trihalomethanes from aqueous solutions.

In this research, ultrasound irradiation was employed to degrade the trihalomethanes, THMs: CHCl3, CHBrCl2, CHBr2Cl, CHBr3, and CHI3. The kinetics reaction rates and removal efficiencies of the THMs compounds, as a sole component in the aqueous solutions, were studied. Batch experiments were conducted at an ultrasonic frequency of 20 kHz and acoustic intensity of 3.75 W/cm2. The first-order degradation rate constants and the sonolysis efficiencies followed the decreasing order of CHCl3 > CHBrCl2 > CHBr2Cl > CHBr3 > CHI3. Up to 100% of the CHCl3 was removed, while only 60% of the CHI3 was sonodegraded, after 180 min sonication. The THMs vapor pressure was found to be the most important parameter affecting the sonodegradation kinetics and efficiency, while the bond dissociation energy and hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics of the THMs compounds were found to be of secondary importance.

Mechanisms and inorganic byproducts of trihalomethane compounds sonodegradation.

Organic pollutants can be sonodegraded by two pathways: pyrolysis, oxidation by free radicals, or the combination of both. The sonolytic degradation mechanisms and byproducts formation of aqueous trihalomethanes (THMs) were investigated at acoustic frequency of 20 kHz. The main sonodegradation mechanism of the chloroform, dichlorobromomethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform was found to be pyrolysis. The sonolysis degradation pathway of iodoform is free radicals oxidation. Hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, chloride, bromide, iodide, and iodate ions were detected and quantified as the inorganic products of the THMs sonication. A total of 48% TOC removal was achieved after a 180-min sonication of the THMs mixture.