Exploring Potentials and Constraints of H2O2 Water Disinfection for Household Settings
2021
Silva, Kamila Jessie Sammarro | Sabogal-Paz, Lyda Patricia
Poor sanitation facilities and deficiencies in infrastructure lead to a scenario of waterborne diseases, particularly in low-income regions. Point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) solutions may be potential interventions for a positive impact in public health, complying with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of safe and affordable water for all (SDG 6). Chlorination is a common POU practice, thus benchmarking disinfection against it could be beneficial for finding alternative household-scale approaches. Here, we explored hydrogen peroxide, a well-known and commercially available oxidant, as a standalone disinfectant targeting Escherichia coli and Phi X174 bacteriophage as a model of enteric viruses, common pathogens found in source waters. Oxidation of natural organic matter (NOM) was also assessed by photometric assays. A 30-min exposure to H₂O₂ at 0.3% provided > 6.5 log₁₀-inactivation of phage, whereas chlorine reached approximately 3.0. When exclusively targeting bacteria, both disinfectants were considered efficient, but, when Phi X174 was included, only H₂O₂ satisfied criteria. Chlorine oxidation performance was considered sufficient; however, NOM variations obtained by H₂O₂ treatments should be further assessed. Though some limitations are discussed, particularly considering residuals, these are taken as directions for investigating practical applications. Overall, results suggest H₂O₂ is a potential standalone POU disinfectant, encouraging research on context-specific household settings or emergency scenarios.
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