Water disinfection using an immobilised titanium dioxide film in a photochemical reactor with electric field enhancement

We have produced an adherent defect TiO2 film reactor in which the performance is greatly improved by the application of a small positive bias (electric field enhancement) to boost hydroxyl radical production. In the reactor the light, electric field and photocatalyst combined to disinfect water containing Clostridium perfringens spores and Escherichia coli. Singly, neither light, the electric field or the combination of light and fixed film could significantly reduce the numbers of indicator bacteria. We believe that water disinfection using an immobilised titanium dioxide film photochemical reactor with electric field enhancement could provide an effective and energy efficient source of hydroxyl radicals for water disinfection.