Pulsed high voltage electric discharge disinfection of microbially contaminated liquids

Abstract

Aims: To examine the use of a novel multielectrode slipping surface discharge (SSD) treatment system, capable of pulsed plasma discharge directly in water, in killing micro‐organisms. Methods and Results: Potable water containing Escherichia coli and somatic coliphages was treated with pulsed electric discharges generated by the SSD. The SSD system was highly efficient in the microbial disinfection of water with a low energy utilization (η ≈ 10 –4 kW h l –1 ). Conclusions: The SSD treatment was effective in the destruction of E. coli and its coliphages through the generation of u.v. radiation, ozone and free radicals. Significance and Impact of the Study: The non‐thermal treatment method can be used for the eradication of micro‐organisms in a range of contaminated liquids, including milk, negating the use of pasteurization. The method utilizes multipoint electric discharges capable of treating large volumes of liquid under static and flowing regimes.

Multispark Discharge in Water as a Method of Environmental Sustainability Problems Solution

“…As a step of our activity experimental investigation of effectiveness of disinfection action of multispark discharge on the water containing Escherichia coli and its viruses (coliphages) has been carried out [22]. The apparatus used to treat liquids is the same as shown schematically in Figure 1.…”

Disinfection Performance against Salmonella Typhi in Water by Radio Frequency Inductive Couple Plasma System

“…Alternative technologies in drinking water treatment processes have been investigated using physical methods such as a membrane bioreactor [5], pulsed electric field irradiation [6], and floating media filtermicrofiltration [7]. The advanced oxidation process (AOP) is an alternative process for removing pathogenic bacteria from water.…”

“…Compared with other advanced oxidation processes, the radio frequency inductive couple plasma (RFICP) system is a new technology for the disinfection of microorganisms in water without chemical disinfection [6][7][8][9]11,12]. To the best of our knowledge, after an intensive literature review, the present study is the first one to focus on the removal of Salmonella Typhi using RFICP.…”

Pump Effect of a Capillary Discharge in Electrically Conductive Liquids

“…Last two decades, research has been focused on getting a better understanding of the pre-breakdown and breakdown phenomena in liquid water [1][2][3][4][5] and on several applications in water such as degradation of hazardous organic compounds [4][5][6][7], killing of microorganisms [3,[8][9][10][11], chemical synthesis [12,13], shock wave generation [14][15][16], medicine [15] and biomedical engineering [16,17] ... [18]. Among the various configurations to generate plasma in conductive liquids only the diaphragm and the capillary discharge scheme allow to generate plasma which is not in contact with one of the electrodes.…”