Modelling of E. coli Inactivation from Solutions using GInaFiT via Hybrid Electrode Connected Electro-Disinfection Process

Abstract

E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a bacterium found in human and animal intestines. These bacteria, which can enter the bloodstream through as anyway as the environment or food, can cause many diseases such as diarrhea, respiratory problems, and blood/urinary tract infections especially in human. Therefore, these bacteria have to be removed from drinking water sources by some inactivation methods. Conventional methods as chlorination, ozonation and UV inactivation methods are effective but the development of techniques that do not require the transportation and storage of chemicals and do not produce negative by-products and cost-effective is the basis of environmental engineering studies. In this study, the inactivation effectiveness of hybrid electrode connected electrochemical process as a new approach on E. coli was investigated. The connection system was experienced with Al/SS/SS as Anode/Cathode/Anode electrode. Simultaneously electrocoagulation (EC) and electrooxidation (EO) mechanism works together in this electrode connection system. The inactivation coefficients were determined by the GInaFiT (Geeraerd and Van Impe Inactivation Model Fitting Tool) modeling tool, which is a Microsoft Excel add-on and the model was statistically well fitted with Double-Weibull. 4D degradation of E. coli was achieved as 21 minutes at a current density of 0.3 A and an optical density (O.D.) of 0.21. It has been determined that hybrid electrode connected electro-disinfection process is an effective approach for the E.coli inactivation.