Ag and Cu loaded on TiO2 graphite as a c

This study investigates the synthesis and application of TiO2 films loaded with silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) as catalysts for the disinfection of Escherichia coli-contaminated water. The objective was to compare the disinfection efficiencies of Ag-TiO2/graphite (G) and Cu-TiO2/G under various methods. The TiO2 films were prepared using a chemical bath deposition method, then loaded with Ag and Cu via electrodeposition. The photoelectrochemical efficiency of the composites was evaluated for their ability to disinfect E. coli-contaminated water. Results indicated that Ag-TiO2/G showed superior disinfection efficiency across all methods tested—photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis—compared to Cu-TiO2/G. Notably, the highest rate constant for disinfection was achieved using the PEC method with Ag-TiO2/G, measuring 6.49 × 10-2 CFU mL-1 min-1. The study found effective disinfection times of 24 hours and 48 hours for most methods, with the exception of electrocatalysis using Cu-TiO2/G, demonstrating the potential of Ag-TiO2/G as a viable catalyst for water disinfection applications.