INACTIVATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI BY TITANIUM-DIOXIDE PHOTOCATALYTIC OXIDATION

Titanium dioxide in the anatase crystalline form was used as a photoca talyst to generate hydroxyl radicals in a flowthrough water reactor. E xperiments were performed on pure cultures of Escherichia coli in dech lorinated tap water and a surface water sample to evaluate the disinfe ction capabilities of the reactor. In water devoid of significant amou nts of inorganic-radical scavengers, rapid cell death was observed wit h both pure cultures and members of the indigenous flora in a natural water sample.