Ozone disinfection of waterborne pathogens: A review of mechanisms, applications, and challenges

Water serves as a critical vector for the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms, playing a pivotal role in the emergence and propagation of numerous diseases. Ozone (O₃) disinfection technology offers promising potential for mitigating the spread of these pathogens in aquatic environments. However, previous studies have only focused on the inactivated effect of O₃ on a single pathogenic microorganism, lacking a comprehensive comparative analysis of various influencing factors and different types of pathogens, while the cost-effectiveness of O₃ technology has not been mentioned. This review synthesized the migration characteristics of various pathogenic microorganisms in water bodies and examined the properties, mechanisms, and influencing factors of O₃ inactivation. It evaluated the efficacy of O₃ against diverse pathogens, namely bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi, and provided a comparative analysis of their sensitivities to O₃. The formation and impact of harmful disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the O₃ inactivation process were assessed, alongside an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of this method. Additionally, potential synergistic treatment processes involving O₃ were proposed. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for optimizing the utilization of O₃ in water inactivation in order to formulate better inactivation strategies in the post-pandemic eras.