The Effect Of Different Photocatalytic Semiconductors On The Enhancement Of PET Solar Disinfection Of E. coli-contaminated Water Sources
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Contaminated water has been a worldwide epidemic and an issue that is prevalent in many developing countries across the world, including India and Brazil. The purpose of this research study was to determine an effective method to remove bacteria from contaminated water. One method that is effective in doing so is the solar disinfection of water (SODIS) and the experiment attempted to improve the method with the addition of a semiconductor, to help inactivate more bacterial colonies. It was hypothesized that the best combination would be the PET bottle with the titanium(IV) oxide. E. coli cells were cultured for 24 hours and then 25 colonies of the bacteria were placed into each of the bottles. To create the paint for application on the bottles, a 1.9 gram concentration of acrylic paint mixed with the powdery semiconductor was created and applied to all bottles, except the control group with no photocatalytic semiconductor. Samples of water, from a customary tap water source, were taken before and after exposure and were cultured for CFU counts (in CFU/mL). An ANOVA test for the differences in the before and after CFU counts showed a statistical difference between at least one of the PSC’s (F(4,20)=55.17, p<0.001). After conducting a post-hoc Tukey test, it showed that the best combination of bottle and semiconductor was the PET bottle type with the ZnS conductor. However, the TiO2 semiconductor was just behind the ZnS, partially supporting the initial hypotheses.
Recommended Citation
Deeconda, Anvith, "The Effect Of Different Photocatalytic Semiconductors On The Enhancement Of PET Solar Disinfection Of E. coli-contaminated Water Sources" (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 217.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/217
Start Date
4-11-2015 10:30 AM
End Date
4-11-2015 10:45 AM
The Effect Of Different Photocatalytic Semiconductors On The Enhancement Of PET Solar Disinfection Of E. coli-contaminated Water Sources
Contaminated water has been a worldwide epidemic and an issue that is prevalent in many developing countries across the world, including India and Brazil. The purpose of this research study was to determine an effective method to remove bacteria from contaminated water. One method that is effective in doing so is the solar disinfection of water (SODIS) and the experiment attempted to improve the method with the addition of a semiconductor, to help inactivate more bacterial colonies. It was hypothesized that the best combination would be the PET bottle with the titanium(IV) oxide. E. coli cells were cultured for 24 hours and then 25 colonies of the bacteria were placed into each of the bottles. To create the paint for application on the bottles, a 1.9 gram concentration of acrylic paint mixed with the powdery semiconductor was created and applied to all bottles, except the control group with no photocatalytic semiconductor. Samples of water, from a customary tap water source, were taken before and after exposure and were cultured for CFU counts (in CFU/mL). An ANOVA test for the differences in the before and after CFU counts showed a statistical difference between at least one of the PSC’s (F(4,20)=55.17, p<0.001). After conducting a post-hoc Tukey test, it showed that the best combination of bottle and semiconductor was the PET bottle type with the ZnS conductor. However, the TiO2 semiconductor was just behind the ZnS, partially supporting the initial hypotheses.
