Citation: Jun-Jie Wang, Jue-Lin Xiang, Hai-Sheng Du, Jian Zhao, Li Li, Ming-Qi Ye, Ye Du. Synergistic disinfection by microwave electrodeless ultraviolet light and in situ generated O₃: Characteristics of bacterial inactivation, reactivation and disinfection mechanism[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 111984. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111984 shu

Synergistic disinfection by microwave electrodeless ultraviolet light and in situ generated O₃: Characteristics of bacterial inactivation, reactivation and disinfection mechanism

Jun-Jie Wang ^a ,
Jue-Lin Xiang ^a ,
Hai-Sheng Du ^b ,
Jian Zhao ^c ,
Li Li ^c ,
Ming-Qi Ye ^d ,
Ye Du ^{a, *,}

a.
College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610000, China
b.
Sichuan Macyouwei Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610000, China
c.
Chengdu Xingrong Environment Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610095, China
d.
Everbright Water (Shenzhen) Limited, Shenzhen 518000, China

duyeah@scu.edu.cn

Received Date: 12 June 2025
Revised Date: 2 September 2025
Accepted Date: 17 October 2025
Available Online: 18 October 2025

Figures(5)

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection has some disadvantages such as unstable disinfection effect and bacterial revival. The UV/ozone (O₃) co-disinfection process can be capable of solving the above-mentioned problems, but the current technology has the disadvantages of high costs and high operational risk. In this study, a new type of simultaneous O₃-producing microwave electrodeless UV lamp (O₃−MWUVL) was developed. The device can emit 254 nm and 185 nm UV, which can produce O₃ while disinfecting. The O₃−MWUVL exhibited significant disinfecting effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). The disinfection effect of MWUV/O₃ was better than that of MWUV or O₃. The inactivation rate of E. coli disinfected by MWUV/O₃ can reach 3.44 log when the UV dose was 16 mJ/cm², and the inactivation rate of B. subtilis disinfected by MWUV/O₃ can reach 4.64 log when the UV dose was 30 mJ/cm². At the same time, the MWUV/O₃ treatment can effectively inhibit the photoreactivation of E. coli. The maximum photoreactivation rate of E. coli treated by MWUV/O₃ was only 0.11%. Additionally, the disinfection efficacy of the O₃−MWUVL on actual wastewater was investigated, revealing that O₃ pretreatment enhanced the UV inactivation capacity significantly. Furthermore, it was found that sequential disinfection using O₃−MWUV or MWUV/O₃ synergistic approach yielded superior results compared to MWUV-O₃ sequential disinfection. Finally, investigation into the disinfection mechanism in the MWUV/O₃ disinfection process substantiated the generation of hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) within the system, while observations from scanning electron microscopy and laser confocal scanning microscopy also demonstrated that O₃ plays an important role in dismantling cellular structures.
- Microwave discharge electrodeless ultraviolet,
- O₃,
- Reclaimed water,
- Disinfection,
- Photoreactivation
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Synergistic disinfection by microwave electrodeless ultraviolet light and in situ generated O3: Characteristics of bacterial inactivation, reactivation and disinfection mechanism

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通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Synergistic disinfection by microwave electrodeless ultraviolet light and in situ generated O₃: Characteristics of bacterial inactivation, reactivation and disinfection mechanism