Disinfection of E. Coli Using Visible-light-driven Photocatalyst

Ag/BiOI composites were synthesized by a solvothermal process and subsequent photodeposition method. The prepared Ag/BiOI photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) measurement. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic disinfection efficiency of E. coli using visible-light-driven Ag/BiOI was almost 99.99%, and significantly higher than that of BiOI. The determination of of released K+ further confirmed that the cell membranes of E. coli were ruptured in the photocatalytic disinfection.