Solar Photocatalytic Detoxification and Disinfection of Water: Recent Overview

During the last few years, there has been a plethora of research and development in the area of solar photocatalysis (TiO2 and photo-Fenton). This overview, of the most recent papers on the use of sunlight to produce the O∙H, comments on those most relevant to the development of the technology and summarizes most of the recent research related to the degradation of water contaminants, and how solar photocatalysis (coupled with biotreatment) could significantly contribute to the treatment of very persistent toxic compounds. Various solar reactors for photocatalytic water treatment based mainly on nonconcentrating collectors developed during the last few years are also described in detail. This review also reports the use of the photocatalytic processes (TiO2) to inactivate microorganisms present in water, placing special emphasis on those applications that make use of sunlight. Work on water disinfection mechanisms in the last decade is summarized in the last part of this overview, with attention to some experimental systems developed to optimize this disinfection technology.