Removal of disinfection residual bacteria in UV222, UV222/H2O2 and UV222/peroxymonosulfate systems: what is the safe usage for wastewater reclamation

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2025-04-05 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123602

Rui Gao, Shu-Hong Gao, Jun Li, Fang Huang, Yanmei Zhao, Jingni Xie, Yusheng Pan, Wanying Zhang, Aijie Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Disinfection residual bacteria (DRB) are widely present in the reclaimed treatment effluents and can regrow during the downstream distribution and storage, posing a threat to the biosafety of reuse applications. Recently, far ultraviolet (UV₂₂₂) have garnered augmented attention due to the highly efficient and energy-intensive oxidation, making them a potential approach for the deep inactivation of DRB. However, there remains a lack of quantitative analyses on how to monitor the disinfection intensity to mitigate the health risks associated with DRB. In this study, we used the UV₂₂₂, UV₂₂₂/H₂O₂ and UV₂₂₂/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) systems to treat model DRB including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis, and developed a multiparameter model to accurately present the dose-culturability relationship. On this basis, we conducted the simulated disinfection, and detected the viability status and regrowth potential of DRB during the post-disinfection processes. It turned out that UV₂₂₂ alone exhibited the superiority over UV₂₅₄, especially for treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa. UV₂₂₂/H₂O₂ and UV₂₂₂/PMS systems further improved the inactivation rates. The practical UV doses for full-scale reclaimed disinfection (10–200 mJ/cm²) were sufficient for the UV₂₂₂-based systems to inactivate DRB (initial 10⁷ CFU/mL) to the safe level in effluent measured by culture methods. But substantial DRB still persisted in VBNC state, which necessitated higher doses of 200–450 mJ/cm² to further inhibit the regrowth under accidental contamination and prolonged transport/storage culture. Fortunately, H₂O₂ provided residual disinfection for Bacillus subtilis, and PMS performed promising sustained disinfection for all the three DRB. This study provided valuable insights for the expanded application of UV₂₂₂ disinfection and future updates of pathogen standards in reclaimed water treatment.

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.