Elimination of bacterial contaminations by treatment of water with boron-doped diamond electrodes

Boron-doped diamond electrodes can be used to generate reactive oxygen species directly at the electrode’s surface. This property was used in this study for in-situ electrochemical oxidation to eliminate different bacteria, i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , as well as Bacillus subtilis spores from water samples. Application of low voltages in the rage from 4 to 10 V and short incubation times in the range of minutes allowed a complete disinfection of water contaminated with enterobacteria and freshwater microbes including nosocomial pathogens as well as a significant reduction of spores. A pilot reactor was constructed, which allowed to decrease microbial contamination of sewage plant effluent drastically. Graphical abstract Boron-doped diamond electrodes allow efficient reduction of bacterial contaminations in water samples