A scalable environmentally friendly method for inactivation of viruses in water

Background

A consortium of Slovenian public research organizations has developed a new method and device for water disinfection without the use of chemicals. The solution combines two environmentally friendly approaches—cold gaseous plasma and hydrodynamic cavitation—which efficiently inactivate waterborne viruses. The method has been successfully validated with a laboratory prototype.

Description of invention

A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed a method and constructed a device for the efficient deactivation of viruses and other microorganisms in water. The proposed innovative technology is completely chemical-free and eco-friendly. It combines two environmentally friendly approaches—cold gaseous plasma and hydrodynamic cavitation—which together efficiently inactivate waterborne viruses. Many important human pathogenic viruses can be transmitted through water and cause mild to severe gastrointestinal problems, serious health complications, or even death. Similarly, plant viruses can destroy entire crops, leading to substantial economic losses for growers.The team’s initial focus is on developing a device for water disinfection in irrigation systems for hydroponic farming, identified as the first application area. However, the technology has much broader potential, including applications in wastewater treatment, drinking water processing, and the disinfection of heavily contaminated hospital effluents. They are also prepared to establish a spin-out company for further development and commercialization of devices that can already reduce virus concentrations by 4–5 log units in small volumes (with a flow rate of up to 5 L/min), with the potential for scaling to larger volumes in closed irrigation systems and in highly contaminated hospital wastewater. To move forward, the team seeks a partner who can provide space and a hydroponic facility for installing a pilot system, enabling extensive testing and further development of the water disinfection device under a technical cooperation agreement.

Main advantages

The researchers have developed and successfully tested a prototype of the device in a laboratory environment. The optimized version of the laboratory prototype enables smooth operation and highly repeatable results. Long-lasting experiments have not been performed yet. The researchers have tested the device on a model virus and have accomplished total virus inactivation. They have used 10- to 1000-times higher virus concentrations that can be found in nature (treatment time varies, of course).