Viral RNA reduction from wastewaters using microalgae-based treatments: Elucidating the effect of light and zero-valent iron nanoparticles
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Microalgae-based reduction of viral RNA of at least 99 % was achieved within 192 h. • ZVI NPs at high-light intensity supported at least 99 % reduction within 72 h. • Viral RNA reduction was associated with O 2 and light excess conditions. • ZVI NPs enhanced MS2/Phi6 reduction by boosting algal-bacterial photo-oxygenation. • BCoV RNA was inactivated mainly by light-driven mechanisms. Microalgae-based systems can potentially inactivate E. coli and viruses. In this work, batch algal-bacterial photobioreactors were operated to elucidate the effect of zero-valent iron (ZVI) nanoparticles and light intensity on the reduction of viral RNA (MS2, Phi6 and Bovine coronavirus, BCoV) and uidA gene ( E. coli ) during secondary wastewater treatment. Biodegradation and abiotic control photoreactors were operated at high light intensity (1100 µE m −2 s −1 ), with and without ZVI-nanoparticles addition ( HLNP and HL ) and low light intensity (450 µE m −2 s −1 ), without nanoparticles ( LL ). After 72 h, HLNP matched or increased the reductions of at least 99.9 % for viruses and 99 % for uidA achieved within 192 h in HL and LL . Oxidative reactions in the presence of ZVI-nanoparticles seemed to mediate the decay of viral RNA and uidA . This work demonstrated for the first time the potential for enhanced reduction of viral RNA and E. coli by ZVI-nanoparticles during microalgae-based wastewater treatment.
Source: Bioresource Technology
Institution: Universidad de Valladolid
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,880
OpenAlex ID: W4408403824