Assessment of solar photo-Fenton, photocatalysis, and H2O2 for removal of phytopathogen fungi spores in synthetic and real effluents of urban wastewater

Scarcity of fresh water is a major environmental problem, and properly treated wastewater could be analternative renewable water resource, especially for agriculture as the final point-of-use. But beforewastewater can be reused, it must be treated to meet chemical and biological quality standards, whichdepend on the final use and legislation. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have been demonstratedto be very efficient in decreasing the pathogen load in contaminated water. This study presents the experimentalevaluation of several solar-driven AOPs, i.e., photo-Fenton (Fe2+, Fe3+) at low reagent concentration,heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2), and solar photoassisted H2O2 treatment for removal of thespores of Fusarium sp., a worldwide phytopathogen. The experimental work was done in a pilot solar photoreactorwith Compound Parabolic Collector (CPC). Disinfection of Fusarium solani spores by all treatmentswas excellent in distilled water, in simulated municipal wastewater effluent (SMWWE), and inreal municipal wastewater effluents (RMWWE). Degradation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was alsoevaluated. The inactivation rates varied depending on the water matrix, and disinfection was fastest indistilled water followed by SMWWE, and RMWWE. The best F. solani inactivation rate was with photo-Fenton treatment (10/20 mg/L of Fe2+/H2O2) at pH 3, followed by H2O2/Solar (10 mg/L) and finallyTiO2/Solar was the slowest. These results underline the importance of solar AOPs and the CPC reactortechnology as a good option for waterborne pathogen removal.