Experimental Research on the Sterilization of Escherichia Coli and Bacillus Subtilis in Drinking Water by Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The bactericidal effect on the representative type of Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis in drinking water was investigated in this paper by using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) advanced oxidation technology. The sterilizing rates under different conditions of reaction time t, input voltage V, pH value, and initial concentration of bacteria C0 were investigated to figure out the optimum sterilization conditions. Our observations and comparisons of cell morphology alteration by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed the sterilization mechanisms. The results showed that the sterilizing rate increased obviously with the extension of reaction time t and the rise of input voltage V . The optimal sterilization effect was achieved when the pH value was 7.1. As the initial concentration of bacteria rose, the sterilizing rate decreased. When the input voltage was 2.2 kV and the initial concentration of bacteria was relatively low, the sterilizing rate almost reached 100% after a certain treatment time in neutral aqueous solution. The reasons for the great damage of cell structure and the killing of bacteria are the oxidation of O₃, OH and the accumulation of active species produced by DBD. The article provides a certain theoretical and experimental basis for DBD application in water pollution treatment.