Photocatalytic inactivation of phage Q beta by immobilized titanium dioxide mediated photocatalyst

Photocatalytic inactivation of virus by immobilized TiO2 was investigated using RNA phage Q beta as a model. TiO2-coated tiles, developed for interior sterilisation, were used as immobilized photocatalyst. 2.2 log Q beta was inactivated by immobilized TiO2 mediated photocatalysis by Ih irradiation with near UV black light at an intensity of 3.6x10(-3)W/cm(2). Experiments with a slurry TiO2 reactor were also performed as a reference for the inactivation kinetics study. Photocatalytic Q beta inactivation was expressed by first-order kinetics as the initial concentration of the phage Q beta varied. The inactivation rate constant was proportional to the light intensity in the range of 3-8x10(-3)W/cm(2) of black light with immobilized TiO2 photocatalyst. Broth introduced with phage into the reaction solution inhibited inactivation. No noticeable difference in inactivation was observed between germicidal lamp irradiation with and without immobilized TiO2. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.