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The effect of pyrite on Escherichia coli in water: proof-of-concept for the elimination of waterborne bacteria by reactive minerals
- Source :
- Journal of water and health. 13(1)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- We present proof-of-concept results for the elimination of waterborne bacteria by reactive minerals. We exposed Escherichia coli MG1655 suspended in water to the reactive mineral pyrite (FeS2) at room temperature and ambient light. This slurry eliminates 99.9% of bacteria in fewer than 4 hours. We also exposed Escherichia coli to pyrite leachate (supernatant liquid from slurry after 24 hours), which eliminates 99.99% of bacteria over the same time-scale. Unlike SOlar water DISinfection (SODIS), our results do not depend on the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light. We confirmed this by testing proposed SODIS additive and known photo-catalyst anatase (TiO2) for antibacterial properties and found that, in contrast to pyrite, it does not eliminate E. coli under our experimental conditions. Previous investigations of naturally antibiotic minerals have focused on the medical applications of antibiotic clays, and thus have not been conducted under experimental conditions resembling those found in water purification. In our examination of the relevant literature, we have not found previously reported evidence for the use of reactive minerals in water sanitization. The results from this proof-of-concept experiment may have important implications for future directions in household water purification research.
- Subjects :
- Microbiology (medical)
Iron
Portable water purification
engineering.material
Sulfides
medicine.disease_cause
Article
Water Purification
medicine
Escherichia coli
Water Pollutants
Leachate
Waste Management and Disposal
Edetic Acid
Water Science and Technology
Chelating Agents
Titanium
Mineral
biology
Chemistry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
biology.organism_classification
Catalase
Bacterial Load
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Disinfection
Infectious Diseases
Solar water disinfection
Environmental chemistry
Slurry
engineering
Pyrite
Water Microbiology
Bacteria
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14778920
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of water and health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....00c52acba4e98436f83ebffb84556959