Characterization and Disinfection Performance of α-Fe2O3-TiO2 Based Polyester Membranes for Water Treatment

Abstract

Water is essential for life; however, many people in developing countries, particularly in rural areas, lack access to clean and safe piped water. Lack of appropriate water treatment makes such people to consume untreated water containing biological and chemical pollutants, leading to diseases and even death. Hence, developing eco-friendly technologies using available resources can help address this critical issue. In this study α-Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ coated polyester membranes were employed the disinfection of water containing Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an indicator microorganism. The coated and uncoated membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD). Antibacterial studies were done through direct contact with bacteria (glass bottle test) and the flow test under sunlight irradiation at various initial bacterial concentrations (2.45 × 10³ to 2.45 × 10⁵ CFU/mL). SEM images revealed the presence of the photocatalyst within the membranes, and EDX confirmed the successful impregnation through component analysis. A clear inhibition zone was observed around the coated membranes, 19 and 17 mm for 2.45 × 10³ and 2.45 × 10⁵ CFU/mL, respectively, and no inhibition zone was observed around the uncoated membranes. The coated membranes achieved disinfection efficiency of 91.3% in the glass bottle test and 98.30% in the flow test under sun light irradiation. The novelty of the study is that α-Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ impregnated photocatalytic membranes demonstrated excellent disinfection efficacy compared to the uncoated membranes and can readily be applied for water purification in areas that lack centralized water treatment systems.