ABSTRACT
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an excellent photocatalyst having various applications. The main advantages of TiO2 are nontoxicity, low cost, high chemical stability, biological inertness, and high refraction coefficient. A large numbers of studies have been conducted on TiO2-based photocatalytic disinfection, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae. The key parameters used to modify nanostructured photocatalyst, such as the metal doping functionalization with bacteriostatic properties, morphology, structure, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, and the formation of heterojunction systems can accomplish the successful elimination of the microorganisms and viruses under natural conditions. Many strategies have been proposed to enhance the photoactivity performance of TiO2, such as the morphological control and the construction of the heterojunction systems with other active materials, such as metals, semiconductors, and carbonaceous materials. In this chapter, these strategies are analyzed to elucidate the enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2 in the disinfection processes of pathogenic and model microorganisms.
