ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the independent application of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, active chemicals, and high electric fields for the deactivation of microorganisms in water, and considers direct application of plasma to water treatment. Chlorine has remained both an acceptable and a widely employed method of treatment with regard to water disinfection due to its ease of use and associated efficiency for the inactivation of microorganisms. The small pores needed to trap microorganisms also inhibit the flow, resulting in pressure loss across the filter. The deactivation of microorganisms is believed to be due to electroporation, a process that is the creation of holes in cell membranes, indicating that plasma-originated electric fields might be sufficient. UV radiation in the wavelength range from 240 to 280 nm causes irreparable damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms. Plasma methods that effectively combine the contribution of UV radiation, active chemicals, and high electric fields have been considered as an alternative to these conventional water treatment methods.
