RESEARCH ON ELECTROCHEMICAL CARBON NANOTUBE FILTERS FOR BACTERIAL AND DNA REMOVAL

Abstract

ELECTROCHEMICAL FILTRATION SYSTEMS WERE DEVELOPED TO EVALUATE THE REMOVAL EFFICIENCY AND INACTIVATION PERFORMANCE OF BACTERIA WITH CARBON NANOTUBE (CNT) FILTER AND GRAPHENE FILTER. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE PREDOMINANT REMOVAL MECHANISM OF BACTERIA WAS SIEVING, WITH OVER 98.0% OF REMOVAL UNDER DIFFERENT INFLUENT BACTERIAL CONCENTRATIONS (10^2~10^7 CELLS/ML). THE ELECTROCHEMICAL OPERATION (APPLIED VOLTAGES WERE 1V, 2V AND 3V) IMPROVED THE REMOVAL EFFICIENCY SIGNIFICANTLY, REACHING TO COMPLETELY REMOVAL ESPECIALLY UNDER 3V. THE REMOVAL OF TOTAL DNA AND SPECIFIC GENES WERE ALSO INVESTIGATED. THE PREDOMINANT REMOVAL MECHANISM OF CNT FILTER TOWARDS DNA FRAGMENTS WAS PHYSICAL ADSORPTION. THE RESULTS COULD PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL DISINFECTION TECHNOLOGY IN WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT.