Designing Novel Photocatalysts for Disinfection of Multidrug-Resistant Waterborne Bacteria

Water is the main source of sustaining life. It is an indispensable need for flora and fauna alike. However, water is often contaminated by multidrug-resistant bacteria and various other contaminants. Disinfection methods like ozonation and chlorination fail to curtail these menace, often generating harmful by-products in this process. Photocatalysis, a subsidiary of advanced oxidation processes might have an important role to play in water decontamination. They are effective, do not generate by-products, and provide complete inactivation against these MDR strains and pollutants. The already existing photocatalysts like Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are being depleted to their core. So, newer and novel photocatalysts need to be developed with a more proficient, eco-friendly and biocompatible approach. This discussion aims to have a closer look at the existing disinfection techniques and the emerging players in the field of photocatalysis.