The practicality and prospects for disinfection control by photocatalysis during and post-pandemic: A critical review
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2022
Abstract
The prevalence of global health implications from the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates the innovation and large-scale application of disinfection technologies for contaminated surfaces, air, and wastewater as the significant transmission media of disease. To date, primarily recommended disinfection practices are energy exhausting, chemical driven, and cause severe impact on the environment. The research on advanced oxidation processes has been recognized as promising strategies for disinfection purposes. In particular, semiconductor-based photocatalysis is an effective renewable solar-driven technology that relies on the reactive oxidative species, mainly hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (•O2−) radicals, for rupturing the capsid shell of the virus and loss of pathogenicity. However, the limited understanding of critical aspects such as viral photo-inactivation mechanism, rapid virus mutagenicity, and virus viability for a prolonged time restricts the large-scale application of photocatalytic disinfection technology. In this work, fundamentals of photocatalysis disinfection phenomena are addressed with a reviewed remark on the reported literature of semiconductor photocatalysts efficacies against SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, to validate the photocatalysis process on an industrial scale, we provide updated data on available commercial modalities for an effective virus photo-inactivation process. An elaborative discussion on the long-term challenges and sustainable solutions is suggested to fill in the existing knowledge gaps. We anticipate this review will ignite interest among researchers to pave the way to the photocatalysis process for disinfecting virus-contaminated environments and surfaces for current and future pandemics.
Identifier
85123830905 (Scopus)
Publication Title
Environmental Research
External Full Text Location
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.112814
e-ISSN
10960953
ISSN
00139351
PubMed ID
35090874
Volume
209
Grant
2020H1D3A1A04081409
Fund Ref
Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning
Recommended Citation
Kumar, Abhinandan; Hasija, Vasudha; Sudhaik, Anita; Raizada, Pankaj; Nguyen, Van Huy; Le, Quyet Van; Singh, Pardeep; Nguyen, D. C.; Thakur, Sourbh; and Hussain, Chaudhery Mustansar, "The practicality and prospects for disinfection control by photocatalysis during and post-pandemic: A critical review" (2022). Faculty Publications. 2927.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/fac_pubs/2927
