Inactivation of fungal spores in water by CuO-activated peracetic acid: Kinetics, mechanism and regrowth

Yangfan Li; Kai Li; Qiqi Wan; Xiangqian Xu; Ruihua Cao; Jingyi Wang; Tinglin Huang; Gang Wen

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129611

Inactivation of fungal spores in water by CuO-activated peracetic acid: Kinetics, mechanism and regrowth

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Oct 5:439:129611. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129611. Epub 2022 Jul 16.

Authors

Yangfan Li¹, Kai Li², Qiqi Wan¹, Xiangqian Xu¹, Ruihua Cao¹, Jingyi Wang¹, Tinglin Huang², Gang Wen³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Pollution Control and Water Quality Security Assurance of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China.
³ Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Pollution Control and Water Quality Security Assurance of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, PR China. Electronic address: hitwengang@163.com.

PMID: 35863220
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129611

Abstract

The disinfection of pathogenic microorganisms in water treatment by peracetic acid (PAA)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has been gaining increasing concern. In this work, the inactivation mechanism, influencing factors and regrowth of two pathogenic Aspergillus species in the system of CuO-activated PAA were studied for the first time. The k values of A. niger and A. flavus inactivated by PAA/CuO system were 3.9 and 2.1-fold higher than those inactivated by PAA alone. PAA concentration and CuO dose were positively correlated with the inactivation efficiency, while humic acid and pH were negatively correlated. The main active species that contributed to the inactivation of fungal spores in PAA/CuO system were •OH, CH₃C(O)OO• and ¹O₂. PAA/CuO system had more intense oxidative stimulation and more serious damage to fungal spores according to the analysis of cell membrane integrity and intracellular ROS levels. In addition, the PAA/CuO system was less impacted by the water matrix and kept a good inactivation efficiency in real water samples. The regrowth potential of fungal spores after disinfection was also reduced in PAA/CuO system so as to avoid the risk of biological regrowth. This study provides a feasible PAA-based advanced oxidation method for activating PAA and inactivating fungal spores.

Keywords: Advanced oxidation process; Copper oxide; Fungal spores; Inactivation mechanism; Peracetic acid.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Copper
Disinfection / methods
Kinetics
Peracetic Acid* / pharmacology
Spores, Fungal
Water Purification*

Substances

Copper
Peracetic Acid
cupric oxide