Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Drinking Water Disinfection Using a UV/Photocatalyst
EPA Grant Number: SU832499Title: Drinking Water Disinfection Using a UV/Photocatalyst
Investigators: Ong, Say Kee , Bulliner, Edward , Ikoba, Eseroghene , Tekippe, Mark , Naeve, Nashay , Bruton, Tom
Institution: Iowa State University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2005 through May 30, 2006
Project Amount: $9,600
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2005) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Worldwide, lack of safe drinking water takes an inestimable toll on human health. The objective of this project is to develop a small-scale, sustainable water disinfection technology requiring a minimum of treatment time. More specifically, this project will focus on the application of solar ultra-violet (UV) radiation and a titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalyst to reduce water disinfection times to less than 2 hours without the use of electricity, boiling, or the addition of unavailable chemicals. Furthermore, the technology to be developed will be simple, sustainable and appropriate for implementation in the Kamuli district of Uganda. Phase I of this project addresses initial design and testing and also the identification of sustainability criteria that will critical for future implementation efforts.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
E-coli bacteria are extremely intolerant of UV radiation and will mostly be killed by the UV released by the sun alone in a few hours, even on a cloudy day. Concentrations of approximately 20,000 cfu/100mL in pure distilled water can be reduced to nearly 0 cfu/100mL in 2 hours time. However, in our research bottles coated with a layer of titanium dioxide on the inside actually did a poorer job at disinfecting the water. For the photocatalyst TiO2 to make a difference in the disinfection project, it is important that it be used in a way that does not interfere with the normal degradation of the bacteria as a result of ultraviolet light.
Conclusions:
UV radiation is in and of itself very effective in eliminating bacteria from water. However, for TiO2 to play a significant role in speeding up the disinfection process, a method must be found that utilizes the photocatalytic properties of the titanium dioxide without hindering the degradation of the bacteria already occurring as a result of radiation from the sun. It also remains to be seen how effective the system is in treating more turbid water such as that which would be found in Uganda.
Supplemental Keywords:
Water, Human Health, Environmental Chemistry, Community-based, Disinfection, RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Water, Geographic Area, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, International, titanium dioxide photo catalyast, disinfection of waters, Uganda, UV disinfection, UV treatment, drinking water distribution system, solar detoxification, drinking water contaminants, drinking water treatmentThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.