Kinetic modelling of Escherichia coli inactivation in a photocatalytic wall reactor

• Kinetic model of the E. coli photocatalytic inactivation in an annular wall reactor.
• The model explicitly takes into account the radiation absorption of the TiO2 layer.
• Good agreement between the three-parameter model predictions and experimental data.
• A root mean square error of 0.346 was found for the whole range of TiO2 thicknesses.
• Good predictions of the initial delay, log-linear section and the absence of tails.

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 led to cell lysis. The model explicitly takes into account radiation absorption effects. Photocatalytic inactivation experiments were carried out in a photoreactor operated in a closed recirculating circuit with a reservoir tank and irradiated with a 6 W 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 inner-tube 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.

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