Photocatalytic disinfection of surfaces with copper doped Ti02 nanotube coatings illuminated by ceiling mounted fluorescent light

PLoS One. 2018 May 16;13(5):e0197308. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197308. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

High economic burden is associated with foodborne illnesses. Different disinfection methods are therefore employed in food processing industry; such as use of ultraviolet light or usage of surfaces with copper-containing alloys. However, all the disinfection methods currently in use have some shortcomings. In this work we show that copper doped TiO2 nanotubes deposited on existing surfaces and illuminated with ceiling mounted fluorescent lights can retard the growth of Listeria Innocua by 80% in seven hours of exposure to the fluorescent lights at different places in a food processing plant or in the laboratory conditions with daily reinocuation and washing. The disinfection properties of the surfaces seem to depend mainly on the temperature difference of the surface and the dew point, where for the maximum effectiveness the difference should be about 3 degrees celsius. The TiO2 nanotubes have a potential to be employed for an economical and continuous disinfection of surfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Disinfection / methods*
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Food Handling
  • Light*
  • Listeria / growth & development
  • Meat Products / microbiology
  • Nanotubes* / chemistry
  • Nanotubes* / ultrastructure
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Temperature
  • Titanium* / chemistry

Substances

  • titanium dioxide
  • Copper
  • Titanium

Grants and funding

Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS, P1-0060, to Janez Strancar. Work was funded by Slovenian Research Agency grant >Experimental biophysics of complex systems and imaging in biomedicine<, and by NAMASTE Centre of Excellence, Institute for research and development of Advanced Materials and Technologies for the Future. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.