The disinfection efficacy of UV light irradiation at wavelength of 254 nm over a titanium dioxide (TiO2) suspension was compared to that of UV alone. Bacteriophage Qß was used as a model virus for the study. Qß in sterilized pure water and TiO2suspension was irradiated by a 0.4 mW/cm2intensity of 254nm UV light. The UV light over TiO2was more effective than 254nm UV alone in inactivating Qß. 3.5‐log10Qß inactivation was achieved by UV irradiation over TiO2suspension (103mg/L) after 2 minutes of irradiation, while UV alone inactivated 2‐log10. Using a MPN‐PCR method, a ca. 1‐log10‐unit decrease in Qß RNA concentration was detected after 3 minutes of photocatalytic irradiation. The decrease was explained by damage to nucleic acid of phage Qß due to radical oxidation, which is generated by photocatalysis.
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