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Updated: Aug 8, 2025

A Complete Method for Evaluating the Performance of Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics in Environmental Remediation
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A Complete Method for Evaluating the Performance of Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics in Environmental Remediation

Published on: October 6, 2022

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Can photocatalysis help in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic?

Agata Markowska-Szczupak1, Oliwia Paszkiewicz1, Kenta Yoshiiri2,3

  • 1Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Piastow 42, 71-065 Szczecin, Poland.

Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry
|February 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Photocatalysis shows promise in eliminating mould fungi and bacteria, offering a novel disinfection method. This approach could be crucial in preventing severe COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and co-infections.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Mould fungi pose significant health risks, acting as allergens and contributing to COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.
  • Conventional disinfection methods are often ineffective against resilient fungal spores.
  • Photocatalysis, particularly using titania, is emerging as a potent antimicrobial strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of photocatalytic methods for removing fungi and bacteria.
  • To explore photocatalysis as a preventative measure against severe COVID-19 co-infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on photocatalysis.
  • Analysis of titania photocatalyst properties and applications in antimicrobial contexts.

Main Results:

  • Photocatalysis demonstrates significant potential for inactivating fungi and bacteria.
  • Titania photocatalysts have proven effective in various applications, including air purification.

Conclusions:

  • Photocatalysis offers a highly effective solution for microbial disinfection, especially against resistant fungal spores.
  • This technology can play a vital role in combating microorganisms and mitigating the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated co-infections.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial materialsCOVID-19 pandemicCo-infectionsFungiPhotocatalysis

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