Detection of Enteric Viruses in Wastewater Using Membrane-Assisted Concentration and its Disinfection using Laser-Induced Graphene-based Electrochemical Methods
Waterborne pathogens are a major threat to human health and among them, viruses are of principle concern due to their low infectious dose and higher resistance to disinfection treatment as compared to bacteria. Enteric viruses such as enterovirus, adenovirus, and norovirus, are viruses found in wastewater that can impose various health hazards and compromise public health. Furthermore, recent reports have also detected the presence of coronavirus in wastewater. These viruses can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route and are of significant concern because of the risk they can cause. This calls for a disinfection method with effective removal and inactivation of viruses.
Herein, our primary aim is to synthesize surfaces with antiviral capability and understand the electrochemical disinfection mechanism using experimental and computational studies.
Laser Induced Graphene (LIG) surfaces are known for exhibiting antibacterial properties under the application of electric current. However, these properties can be enhanced by heteroatomic doping. Our work involves the synthesis of doped LIG surfaces with metal oxide dopants such as titanium oxide and Zinc oxide and checking their antiviral activity against structurally distinct enteric viruses. LIG surfaces are synthesized as electrodes and filters, which can be further utilized in disinfection system for water purification.
Electrochemical Inactivation of Enteric Viruses using doped Laser-Induced Graphene Surfaces
Electrochemical Inactivation Mechanism of Viruses
Researchers have explained bacterial inactivation using electrochemical disinfection, however, further disinfection studies are required to arrive at a conclusive mechanism for virus inactivation. Thus, our work involves understanding the mechanism of viruses using TEM characterization, scavenging experiments, and electrochemical characterization, This would be of significance to improve the electrochemical processes in point-of-use disinfection systems for water treatment.
Theoretically, to confirm the effect of the electric field on the structure of virus proteins, molecular simulation studies are carried out. The electric field of various intensities is being applied to evaluate the deformation of proteins, preventing virus infection.
Virus Inactivation mechansim: Molecular Simulation studies