Author(s): Maiara Pereira Assis; Jose Gilberto Dalfre Filho
Linked Author(s): José Gilberto Dalfré Filho, Ana Genovez
Keywords: Cavitation; Nozzles; Bacteria inactivation; Freshwater bodies; Experimental study
Abstract: The quality of water designated for human consumption can be improved through pollution control and by increasing the efficacy of disinfection techniques. The use of chemicals in water treatment processes is becoming increasingly questioned, in large part due to byproducts generated after their use. Chlorine, for instance, is used to inactivate pathogens such as total coliforms and Escherichia coli, in conventional water treatment plants for human consumption. The formation of organochlorine has been considered a carcinogen. Therefore, the application of an alternative procedure that decreases the addition of chemicals added to water would be a beneficial and interesting solution. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficiency of reducing and diminishing the activity of total coliforms and Escherichia coli in freshwater bodies by using an alternative procedure by means of cavitation blasting equipment. During cavitation, several chemical reactions develop in the process of generation, growth and collapse of bubbles, in part by the elevated local pressure and internal liquid temperatures. Results showed inactivity above 80 percent when performed at a high pressure of 10. 00 MPa. Additionally, at a lower pressure of approximately 0. 80 MPa, it is possible to achieve more than 90 percent of inactivity once the process is completed. The cavitation phenomenon has demonstrated to be a promising and efficient alternative to complement or even substitute present water disinfection techniques.
Year: 2013