Speeding up solar disinfection (SODIS): effects of hydrogen peroxide, temperature, pH, and copper plus ascorbate on the photoinactivation of E. coli.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 209 O'Brien Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. mbfisher@gmail.com

Solar disinfection, or SODIS, shows tremendous promise for point-of-use drinking water treatment in developing countries, but can require 48 h or more for adequate disinfection in cloudy weather. In this research, we show that a number of low-cost additives are capable of accelerating SODIS. These additives included 100-1000 muM hydrogen peroxide, both at room temperature and at elevated temperatures, 0.5 - 1% lemon and lime juice, and copper metal or aqueous copper plus ascorbate, with or without hydrogen peroxide. Laboratory and field experiments indicated that additives might make SODIS more rapid and effective in both sunny and cloudy weather, developments that could help make the technology more effective and acceptable to users.

PMID: 17998606 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]