Principal parameters affecting virus inactivation by the solar photo-Fenton process at neutral pH and μM concentrations of H2O2 and Fe2+/3+

E. Ortega-Gómez, M.M. Ballesteros Martín, A. Carratalà, Pilar Fernandez-Ibanez, J.A. Sánchez Pérez, C. Pulgarín

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51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The inactivation of the coliphage MS2 (a human virus indicator) by solar photo-Fenton at near neutralpH in carbonate buffer solution matrix was evaluated. The effects of reactant concentration (H2O2, Fe2+,Fe3+) and solar irradiance on the photo-Fenton process were studied. Specifically, the solar exposure/Fe3+treatment showed a strong dependence on the iron concentration and solar irradiance intensity leadingto complete inactivation (from 106 PFU mL−1 to the detection limit) with 1mg L−1 of Fe3+ and 60 minof solar irradiance (45Wm−2). The MS2 inactivation observed with the photo-Fenton process (solarexposure/H2O2/Fe2+/3+) carried out with Fe3+, was faster than with Fe2+ (detection limit achieved at 20 minand 50 min, respectively). Moreover, virus inactivation by photo-Fenton under different solar irradiancevalues (15, 30 and 45Wm−2),H2O2 and Fe3+ concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1mg L−1) and different pH values(6, 7 and 8) were evaluated. In order to validate the efficiency of the photo-Fenton process at near neutralpH on virus inactivation, the photocatalytic treatment was carried out in natural water (Lake Geneva,Switzerland) and with a human virus (Echovirus). Finally, a conceptual mechanistic interpretation wasproposed regarding how solar photo-Fenton acts on viruses in water, involving the key species Fe2+, Fe3+,H2O2, solar irradiance, organic matter, and their possible reactions and interactions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)395-402
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume174-17
Early online date14 Mar 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Sept 2015

Keywords

  • Photo-Fenton
  • Neutral pH
  • Virus inactivation
  • Mechanisms
  • Natural water

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