Photocatalytic disinfection of Escherichia coli using TiO₂ P25 and Cu-doped TiO₂

coli inactivation.coli inactivation in the range of 4-9.coli inactivation by a factor less than 3. Both sol gel and wet impregnation method are used to create undoped and Cu doped TiO₂ in an effort to enhance the photocatalytic activity, evaluated via the photedegradation and inactivation of Escherichia coli. The results showed that TiO₂ doped with 10% CuCl₂ prepared by wet-impregnation method resulted in a complete 100% E. coli inactivation within one hour (from ~10⁶ to 0CFU/mL). The results also showed that pH has a negligible effect on E. coli inactivation. The use of river water confirmed that photocatalytic disinfection could be quenched by impurities in the water, such as dissolved organic matter.