1
|
Pertegal V, Riquelme E, Lozano-Serra J, Cañizares P, Rodrigo MA, Sáez C, Lacasa E. Cleaning technologies integrated in duct flows for the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in indoor environments: A critical review of recent innovations and future challenges. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118798. [PMID: 37591101 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic microorganisms are a major concern in indoor environments, particularly in sensitive facilities such as hospitals, due to their potential to cause nosocomial infections. This study evaluates the concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi in the University Hospital Complex of Albacete (Spain), comparing the results with recent literature. Staphylococcus is identified as the most prevalent bacterial genus with a percentage distribution of 35%, while Aspergillus represents the dominant fungal genus at 34%. The lack of high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 6, TRL 7) for effective indoor air purification requires research efforts to bridge this knowledge gap. A screening of disinfection technologies for pathogenic airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi is conducted. The integration of filtration, irradiation or and (electro)chemical gas treatment systems in duct flows is discussed to enhance the design of the air-conditioning systems for indoor air purification. Concerns over microbial growth have led to recent studies on coating commercial fibrous air filters with antimicrobial particles (silver nanoparticles, iron oxide nanowires) and polymeric materials (polyaniline, polyvinylidene fluoride). Promising alternatives to traditional short-wave UV-C energy for disinfection include LED and Far-UVC irradiation systems. Additionally, research explores the use of TiO2 and TiO2 doped with metals (Ag, Cu, Pt) in filters with photocatalytic properties, enabling the utilization of visible or solar light. Hybrid photocatalysis, combining TiO2 with polymers, carbon nanomaterials, or MXene nanomaterials, enhances the photocatalytic process. Chemical treatment systems such as aerosolization of biocidal agents (benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide or ozone) with their possible combination with other technologies such as adsorption, filtration or photocatalysis, are also tested for gas disinfection. However, the limited number of studies on the use of electrochemical technology poses a challenge for further investigation into gas-phase oxidant generation, without the formation of harmful by-products, to raise its TRL for effectively inactivating airborne microorganisms in indoor environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Pertegal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Edificio Infante Don Juan Manuel, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - Eva Riquelme
- Clinical Parasitology and Microbiology Area. University Hospital Complex of Albacete, C/ Hermanos Falcó 37, 02006, Albacete, Spain
| | - Julia Lozano-Serra
- Clinical Parasitology and Microbiology Area. University Hospital Complex of Albacete, C/ Hermanos Falcó 37, 02006, Albacete, Spain
| | - Pablo Cañizares
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Edificio Enrique Costa Novella, Campus Universitario s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Manuel A Rodrigo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Edificio Enrique Costa Novella, Campus Universitario s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Cristina Sáez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Edificio Enrique Costa Novella, Campus Universitario s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Engracia Lacasa
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Edificio Infante Don Juan Manuel, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071, Albacete, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Song L, Zhou J, Wang C, Meng G, Li Y, Jarin M, Wu Z, Xie X. Airborne pathogenic microorganisms and air cleaning technology development: A review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127429. [PMID: 34688006 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transmission of pathogens through air is a critical pathway for the spread of airborne diseases, as airborne pathogenic microorganisms cause several harmful infections. This review summarizes the occurrence, transmission, and adverse impacts of airborne pathogenic microorganisms that spread over large distances via bioaerosols. Air cleaning technologies have demonstrated great potential to prevent and reduce the spread of airborne diseases. The recent advances in air cleaning technologies are summarized on the basis of their advantages, disadvantages, and adverse health effects with regard to the inactivation mechanisms. The application scope and energy consumption of different technologies are compared, and the characteristics of air cleaners in the market are discussed. The development of high-efficiency, low-cost, dynamic air cleaning technology is identified as the leading research direction of air cleaning. Furthermore, future research perspectives are discussed and further development of current air cleaning technologies is proposed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Song
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Can Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China.
| | - Ge Meng
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Mourin Jarin
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Ziyan Wu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Xing Xie
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Díaz MF, Sánchez Y, Gómez M, Hernández F, Da C. Veloso MC, De P. Pereira PA, Mangrich AS, De Andrade JB. Physicochemical characteristics of ozonated sunflower oils obtained by different procedures. GRASAS Y ACEITES 2012. [DOI: 10.3989/gya.073212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
4
|
Dodd MC. Potential impacts of disinfection processes on elimination and deactivation of antibiotic resistance genes during water and wastewater treatment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:1754-71. [DOI: 10.1039/c2em00006g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
5
|
Bosshard F, Bucheli M, Meur Y, Egli T. The respiratory chain is the cell's Achilles' heel during UVA inactivation in Escherichia coli. Microbiology (Reading) 2010; 156:2006-2015. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.038471-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Solar disinfection (SODIS) is used as an effective and inexpensive tool to improve the microbiological quality of drinking water in developing countries where no other means are available. Solar UVA light is the agent that inactivates bacteria during the treatment. Damage to bacterial membranes plays a crucial role in the inactivation process. This study showed that even slightly irradiated cells (after less than 1 h of simulated sunlight) were strongly affected in their ability to maintain essential parts of their energy metabolism, in particular of the respiratory chain (activities of NADH oxidase, succinate oxidase and lactate oxidase were measured). The cells' potential to generate ATP was also strongly inhibited. Many essential enzymes of carbon metabolism (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase) and defence against oxidative stress (catalases and glutathione-disulfide reductase) were reduced in their activity during SODIS. The work suggests that damage to membrane enzymes is a likely cause of membrane dysfunction (loss of membrane potential and increased membrane permeability) during UVA irradiation. In this study, the first targets on the way to cell death were found to be the respiratory chain and F1F0 ATPase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Bosshard
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, PO Box 611, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Margarete Bucheli
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, PO Box 611, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Yves Meur
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, PO Box 611, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Egli
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, PO Box 611, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang C, Xi JY, Hu HY, Yao Y. Stimulative effects of ozone on a biofilter treating gaseous chlorobenzene. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2009; 43:9407-12. [PMID: 20000536 DOI: 10.1021/es9019035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recalcitrant volatile organic compounds with low biodegradabilities pose challenges for biofiltration technologies. In this study, the effects and mechanism of adding ozone on the performance of a biofilter were investigated. A biofilter treating chlorobenzene was set up and operated continuously for 265 days under different inlet ozone concentrations. Results showed that ozone below 120 mg m(-3) could notably enhance the biofilter performance. The average chlorobenzene removal efficiency increased from 40 to 70% and then to 90% while the inlet ozone concentration rose from 0 to 40 mg m(-3) and 120 mg m(-3). Reducing ozone concentration resulted in a decrease in removal efficiency from 90 to 40%. Further analysis indicated that the thickness and extra-cellular polymer substance content of the biofilm were remarkably reduced while inlet ozone concentration was gradually increased. Meanwhile, the specific surface areas of the filter bed were found to increase from 784 to 820 and 880 m(2) m(-3). A respiratory quinone profile showed that the dominant quinone shifted from ubiquinone-8 to menaquinone-9(H(2)) after ozone was added. This indicated that some Gram-positive bacteria with thick cell wall became the dominant species under ozone compression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Can Wang
- Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chu L, Wang J, Wang B, Xing XH, Yan S, Sun X, Jurcik B. Changes in biomass activity and characteristics of activated sludge exposed to low ozone dose. CHEMOSPHERE 2009; 77:269-72. [PMID: 19698970 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Revised: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 07/22/2009] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the response mechanism of activated sludge exposed to low-dose ozone at less than 20mgO(3)g(-1) total suspended solids (TSS) was studied by analyzing the changes in sludge activity and the evolution of C, N, P and metals from sludge following ozonation. The intracellular ATP concentration was not affected at less than 5mgO(3)g(-1) TSS and thereafter decreased rapidly to around 60% when the ozone dose increased to 20mgO(3)g(-1) TSS. Similarly, the efficiency of sludge solubilization initially changed a little and then increased rapidly to around 30% at an ozone dose of 20mgO(3)g(-1) TSS. However, the activities of superoxide dismutase and protease decreased immediately upon exposure to ozone. These findings indicate that ozone firstly destroys the floc, leading to the disruption of the compact aggregates, which does not affect cells viability but induces a decrease in enzyme activities. Ozone then attacks the bacterial cells of the sludge, causing a decrease in cells viability. During ozonation, the content of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the sludge matrix decreased, while the content of these elements in the micro-solids and supernatant gradually increased. Most of the released metals from the sludge matrix were found in the micro-solids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Libing Chu
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fisher CW, Lee D, Dodge BA, Hamman KM, Robbins JB, Martin SE. Influence of catalase and superoxide dismutase on ozone inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2000; 66:1405-9. [PMID: 10742219 PMCID: PMC92000 DOI: 10.1128/aem.66.4.1405-1409.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/1999] [Accepted: 01/06/2000] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of ozone at 0.25, 0.40, and 1.00 ppm on Listeria monocytogenes were evaluated in distilled water and phosphate-buffered saline. Differences in sensitivity to ozone were found to exist among the six strains examined. Greater cell death was found following exposure at lower temperatures. Early stationary-phase cells were less sensitive to ozone than mid-exponential- and late stationary-phase cells. Ozonation at 1.00 ppm of cabbage inoculated with L. monocytogenes effectively inactivated all cells after 5 min. The abilities of in vivo catalase and superoxide dismutase to protect the cells from ozone were also examined. Three listerial test strains were inactivated rapidly upon exposure to ozone. Both catalase and superoxide dismutase were found to protect listerial cells from ozone attack, with superoxide dismutase being more important than catalase in this protection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C W Fisher
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Saby S, Leroy P, Block JC. Escherichia coli resistance to chlorine and glutathione synthesis in response to oxygenation and starvation. Appl Environ Microbiol 1999; 65:5600-3. [PMID: 10584025 PMCID: PMC91765 DOI: 10.1128/aem.65.12.5600-5603.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/1999] [Accepted: 09/13/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and resistance to chlorine were measured for two isogenic Escherichia coli strains stressed by oxygenation and/or starvation. The E. coli mutant deficient in GSH was not more sensitive to the oxidant than its parent strain when the bacteria were cultured with a low oxygenation rate. Starvation or oxygenation increased the resistance of the parent strain to chlorine, while the resistance of the deficient strain remained unchanged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Saby
- LCPE-LSE, UMR Université CNRS 7564, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|