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Biofilm control in water by a UV-based advanced oxidation process.
Anat Lakretz1, Eliora Z Ron, Hadas Mamane
1School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Biofouling
|March 11, 2011
Summary
Ultraviolet (UV)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with hydrogen peroxide effectively control water biofilms. Maintaining residual hydrogen peroxide is key for sustained biofilm prevention and bacterial regrowth inhibition.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Engineering
- Microbiology
Background:
- Biofilm formation in water systems poses significant challenges.
- Controlling biofilm requires effective pretreatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate UV-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with hydrogen peroxide for biofilm control.
- To investigate the efficacy of H(2)O(2)/UV pretreatment on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a UV-based advanced oxidation process (AOP) with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and medium-pressure UV light.
- Exposed suspended Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells to H(2)O(2)/UV treatment.
- Monitored biofilm formation by surviving cells post-treatment.
- Conducted control experiments with H(2)O(2) or UV alone, and with filtered vs. full UV spectrum.
Main Results:
- H(2)O(2)/UV significantly inhibited biofilm formation for longer durations (days) compared to H(2)O(2) or UV alone (<24 hours).
- Filtered UV (>295 nm) with H(2)O(2) showed an additive effect, likely due to hydroxyl radical (OH•) activity.
- Full UV spectrum with H(2)O(2) did not yield the same additive effect, possibly due to UV photon interference.
- Sustained biofilm prevention required residual H(2)O(2); the ratio of surviving bacteria to residual H(2)O(2) was critical.
Conclusions:
- UV-based AOPs, particularly with filtered UV and H(2)O(2), offer an effective strategy for water biofilm control.
- The presence of residual H(2)O(2) and the balance between surviving bacteria and H(2)O(2) concentration are crucial for efficacy.
- AOPs demonstrate an advantage over H(2)O(2) treatments alone for biofilm control.
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