Advanced photocatalytic disinfection mechanisms and their challenges

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 366; p. 121875
• Main Authors: Ding, Yang, Yang, Guoxiang, Zheng, Sirui, Gao, Xing, Xiang, Zhuomin, Gao, Mengyang, Wang, Chunhua, Liu, Meijiao, Zhong, Jiasong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Antibacterial mechanism; Microorganisms inactivation; Photocatalysis; Photocatalyst modification; Water environment; Water environment; Photocatalyst modification; Photocatalysis; Microorganisms inactivation; Antibacterial mechanism
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121875

Currently, microbial contamination issues have globally brought out a huge health threat to human beings and animals. To be specific, microorganisms including bacteria and viruses display durable ecological toxicity and various diseases to aquatic organisms. In the past decade, the photocatalytic microorganism inactivation technique has attracted more and more concern owing to its green, low-cost, and sustainable process. A variety kinds of photocatalysts have been employed for killing microorganisms in the natural environment. However, two predominant shortcomings including low activity of photocatalysts and diverse impacts of water characteristics are still displayed in the current photocatalytic disinfection system. So far, various strategies to improve the inherent activity of photocatalysts. Other than the modification of photocatalysts, the optimization of environments of water bodies has been also conducted to enhance microorganisms inactivation. In this mini-review, we outlined the recent progress in photocatalytic sterilization of microorganisms. Meanwhile, the relevant methods of photocatalyst modification and the influences of water body characteristics on disinfection ability were thoroughly elaborated. More importantly, the relationships between strategies for constructing advanced photocatalytic microorganism inactivation systems and improved performance were correlated. Finally, the perspectives on the prospects and challenges of photocatalytic disinfection were presented. We sincerely hope that this critical mini-review can inspire some new concepts and ideas in designing advanced photocatalytic disinfection systems. [Display omitted] •The advantages and mechanisms of photocatalytic sterilization were discussed.•Strategies for constructing advanced disinfection systems were summarized.•The influences of the water environment on disinfection were discussed.•Perspectives and challenges of practical photocatalytic disinfection were presented.