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Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Inactivation of Pathogens via Visible-Light Photolysis of Riboflavin-5′-Phosphate
Published on: April 6, 2022
Visible light plays a significant role during bacterial inactivation by the photo-fenton process, even at
Rosa Mosteo1, Angelica Varon Lopez2, David Muzard3
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; School of Basic Sciences (SB), Institute of Chemical Science and Engineering (ISIC), Group of Advanced Oxidation Processes (GPAO), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Station 6, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The aim of this research is to clarify the contribution of sunlight wavelengths, irradiance and Fe2+/H2O2 during bacterial disinfection by the photo-Fenton process in clear surface waters. We considered different solar spectrum distributions (visible, UVA-Visible), sub-critical irradiances (0-400 W/m2), focusing on the action modes of E. coli inactivation by the constituents involved in the composite process, at low μM reactants concentration (Fe2+/H2O2) in in ultrapure (MQ) water. We report that solar disinfection improved with Fenton reagents (photo-Fenton process) is a reality from very low light irradiance values (200 W/m2), and made possible even without the presence of UVA radiation, even when using low quantities of the Fenton reagents (0.5 mg/L Fe2+, 5 mg/L H2O2). Under light exposure, H2O2 was found to augment the intracellular Fenton process and Fe2+ to initiate further, distinct oxidative actions. Finally, validation was performed in Lake Geneva water over a wider irradiance range, where the photo-Fenton process was found to be reagent-dependent in low irradiance, shifting to light-driven in the higher values.
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