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A new continuous-flow solar water disinfection system inactivating cysts of Acanthamoeba castellanii, and bacteria

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Abstract

Solar water disinfection (SODIS) is an effective and inexpensive microbiological water treatment technique, applicable to communities lacking access to safely managed drinking water services, however, the lower volume of treated water per day (< 2.5 L per batch) is a limitation for the conventional SODIS process. To overcome this limitation, a continuous-flow solar water disinfection system was developed and tested for inactivation of Acanthamoeba castellanii cysts and Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The system consisted of a solar heater composed of a cylindrical-parabolic concentrator and a UV irradiator formed by a fresnel-type flat concentrator combined with a cylindrical-parabolic concentrator. Deionized water with low or high turbidity (< 1 or 50 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) where previously contaminated by 108 Cysts/L or 105–106 CFU/mL of each of four bacterial species. Then was pumped from the heating tank flowing through the heater and through the UV irradiator, then returning to the heating tank, until reaching 45, 55, 60 or 70 °C. The water was kept at the desired temperature, flowing through the UV irradiator for 0.5 and 10 min. Trophozoites were not recovered from cysts (during 20 days of incubation) when water with  < 1 NTU was exposed to UV and 60 °C for 0.5 min. In water with 50 NTU, the same result was obtained after 10 min. In water with < 1 NTU, the inactivation of all bacteria was achieved when the water with < 1 NTU was exposed to 55 °C and UV for 0.5 min; in water, with 50 NTU the same result was achieved by exposure to 60 °C and UV for 0.5 min. The prototype processes 1 L of water every 90s. The system is effective and has the potential to be applied as an alternative to the large-scale public drinking water supply.

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Acknowledgements

To CAPES (GCUB/ProAfri/nº001/2018) for the scholarship for Beni J.M. Chaúque and the PPGMAA for some financial support in the construction of the prototype.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Sarmento Leite Street, N 500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil

    Beni Jequicene Mussengue Chaúque, Gertrudes Corção, Carlos Eugênio Silva, Rodrigo Fernandes Gonçalves & Marilise B. Rott

  2. Department of Hydraulic Works, Hydraulic Research Institute, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Bento Gonçalves street 9500, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Antônio Domingues Benetti

  3. Department of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Niassa Branch, Universidade Rovuma, Nangala campus, Lichinga City, Mozambique

    Beni Jequicene Mussengue Chaúque

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  1. Beni Jequicene Mussengue Chaúque
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  2. Antônio Domingues Benetti
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Correspondence to Marilise B. Rott.

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Chaúque, B.J.M., Benetti, A.D., Corção, G. et al. A new continuous-flow solar water disinfection system inactivating cysts of Acanthamoeba castellanii, and bacteria. Photochem Photobiol Sci 20, 123–137 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-020-00008-4

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