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Lack of Influence of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) Level on Hydroxyl Radical Mediated Disinfection of Escherichia coli
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Lack of Influence of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) Level on Hydroxyl Radical Mediated Disinfection of Escherichia coli

Amy S. Gong, Caylyn A. Lanzl, David M. Cwiertny and Sharon L. Walker
Environmental science & technology, v 46(1), pp 241-249
03 Jan 2012
PMID: 22082030

Abstract

Engineering Engineering, Environmental Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences & Ecology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Technology
Photolysis of nitrate, a prevalent constituent in agriculturally impacted waters, may influence pathogen attenuation in such systems through production of hydroxyl radical ((OH)-O-center dot). This study focuses on the efficacy of (OH)-O-center dot generated during nitrate photolysis in promoting E. coli die-off as a function of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) coverage. EPS levels of four E. coli isolates were systematically altered through a sonication extraction method and photochemical batch experiments with a solar simulator examined isolate viability loss as a function of time in nitrate solutions. E. coli viability loss over time exhibited two regimes: an initial induction time, t(s), with little decay was followed by rapid exponential decay characterized by a first-order disinfection rate constant, k. Increasing steady-state (OH)-O-center dot concentrations enhanced E. coli viability loss, increasing values of k and decreasing t(s) values, both of which were quantified with a multitarget bacterial disinfection model. Notably, at a given steady-state (OH)-O-center dot concentration, values of t(s) and k were independent of EPS levels, nor did they vary among the different E. coli strains considered. Results herein show that while (OH)-O-center dot generated via nitrate photolysis enhances rates of disinfection in surface water, the mechanism by which (OH)-O-center dot kills E. coli is relatively insensitive to common bacterial variables.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
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