Kinetic Modelling of Escherichia Coli Inactivation in a Photocatalytic Wall Reactor

ALFANO, O. M.; CASSANO, A. E.; SATUF, M. L.; MARUGÁN, J.; VAN GRIEKEN, R.; PABLOS, C.

Almería

Conferencia; 3rd European Conference on Environmental Applications of Advanced Oxidation Processes; 2013

Ciemat, PSA, Ciesol, Universidad de Almería

A kinetic model of the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli in an annular wall reactor is presented. The model is based on a reaction scheme that involves a series of events in which bacteria are progressively damaged and eventually leads to cell lysis. The model explicitly takes into account radiation absorption effects. Photocatalytic experiments were carried out in a photoreactor operated in a closed recirculating circuit with a reservoir tank and irradiated with a 6W black light lamp situated in the axis of the reactor. Immobilization of TiO2 Aeroxide P25 has been carried out by the dip-coating procedure onto the innertube wall of the annular reactor. Experimental results for different TiO2 layer thicknesses were used to estimate the kinetic parameters of the model. Good agreement between model predictions and inactivation experiments was achieved in the whole range of TiO2 thicknesses studied.