Enhanced solar inactivation of fungal spores by addition of low-dose chlorine: Efficiency and mechanism

Abstract

This work demonstrated that the solar inactivation of fungal spores was enhanced by addition of low-dose chlorine. Although the effect of low-dose chlorine alone (2.0 mg/L) on culturability of fungal spores was negligible, the solar/chlorine inactivation on fungal spores performed better than solar alone inactivation, with a lower shoulder length and a higher maximum inactivation rate constant. The enhanced inactivation of Aspergillus niger can be ascribed to the membrane oxidation by chlorine, and the enhanced inactivation of Penicillium polonicum can be ascribed to the membrane oxidation by chlorine and ·OH (·OH plays a major role). The oxidization by chlorine and ·OH led to an increase in membrane permeability of fungal spores, which enhanced the solar inactivation, resulting in an increase in intracellular ROS and more serious morphological damage. Due to the presence of background substances such as dissolved organic matter and metal ions (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, etc.), the inactivation efficiency in real water matrices was decreased. The main disinfection by-products (DBPs) produced in the inactivation of fungal spores in chlorine alone and solar/chlorine treatments were dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetone and trichloromethane. Generally, DBPs formation in solar/chlorine treatment was lower than those in chlorine alone treatment. Moreover, the regrowth potential of the two genera of fungal spores in R2A medium could be inhibited by adding low-dose chlorine.

Keywords: Chlorine; Disinfection by-products; Enhanced; Fungal spores; Solar.