Effect of Human Adenovirus Type 35 Concentration on Its Inactivation and Sorption on Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Abstract

Removal of pathogenic viruses from water resources is critically important for sanitation and public health. Nanotechnology is a promising technology for virus inactivation. In this paper, the effects of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) anatase nanoparticles (NPs) on human adenovirus type 35 (HAdV-35) removal under static and dynamic (with agitation) batch conditions were comprehensively studied. Batch experiments were performed at room temperature (25 °C) with and without ambient light using three different initial virus concentrations. The virus inactivation experimental data were satisfactorily fitted with a pseudo-first-order expression with a time-dependent rate coefficient. The experimental results demonstrated that HAdV-35 sorption onto TiO₂ NPs was favored with agitation under both ambient light and dark conditions. However, no distinct relationships between virus initial concentration and removal efficiency could be established from the experimental data.