A 3D-Printed Portable UV and Visible Photoreactor for Water Purification and Disinfection Experiments

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2024-03, Vol.14 (6), p.525
• Main Authors: Castro, Nelson, Queirós, Joana M, Alves, Dinis C, Fernandes, Margarida M Macedo, Lanceros-Méndez, Senetxu, Martins, Pedro M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; Agitation; Analysis; Cellulose acetate; Ciprofloxacin; Contaminants; Contamination; Cost effectiveness; Design; Disinfection; Disinfection and disinfectants; E coli; Efficiency; Irradiation; Light; Methods; Nanoparticles; Organic contaminants; Photocatalysis; Pollutants; Portability; portable photoreactor; Purification; Radiant flux density; Radiation; Reactors; Subsystems; Three dimensional printing; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Ultraviolet radiation; Water; Water pollution; Water purification; Water scarcity; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano14060525

Water scarcity and contamination are urgent issues to be addressed. In this context, different materials, techniques, and devices are being developed to mitigate contemporary and forthcoming water constraints. Photocatalysis-based approaches are suitable strategies to address water contamination by degrading contaminants and eliminating microbes. Photoreactors are usually designed to perform photocatalysis in a scalable and standardised way. Few or none have been developed to combine these characteristics with portability, flexibility, and cost effectiveness. This study reports on designing and producing a portable (490 g), low-cost, and multifunctional photoreactor that includes adjustable radiation intensity and two types of wavelengths (UV-A and visible), including combined agitation in a compact mechanism produced through 3D printing technology. The mechanical, electrical, and optical subsystems were designed and assembled into a robust device. It is shown that it is possible to apply radiations that can reach 65 mW/cm and 110 mW/cm using the installed visible and UV LEDs and apply mechanical agitation up to 200 rpm, all under a ventilated system. Regarding functionality, the photoreactor proof of concept indicated the ability to degrade ~80% and 30% ciprofloxacin under UV and visible irradiation of TiO and Ag/TiO nanoparticles. The device also showed the ability to eliminate bacteria, recurring to radiation set-ups and nanoparticles. Therefore, the originally designed and constructed photoreactor concept was characterised and functionally validated as an exciting and flexible device for lab-scaled or outdoor experiments, assuring standardised and comparable results.