Optimization of Physical Parameters affecting Disinfection of Water by Copper

Abstract

Disinfection of water is the most essential step which can prevent endemic and/or epidemics of water borne diseases. Recently, USEPA has registered copper as the first solid antimicrobial material due to its continuous antimicrobial properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to optimize the physical parameters (i.e. ratio of Surface Area of Copper to Volume of Water in Contact) which have a great effect on disinfection using copper. The optimization study was carried out on copper vessels of different configurations such as cylindrical copper jug and rectangular copper plates against important diarrhoeagenic bacteria, including, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aureofaciens. In the study, the prepared test sample was stored in copper vessel for about 8 hrs at room temperature (around 25^oC) and its microbial examination was done after every 1hr time interval by passing 1 ml of sample through membrane filtration technique and plating on selective media for all three strains and incubated for 24 hrs at 37^oC for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, while at 30^oC for Pseudomonas aureofaciens. It was observed that as the ratio of surface area of copper in contact to volume of sample in contact decreases, the time taken for disinfection increases.