An electroporation device with copper oxide nanowires for bacterial inactivation

• Main Author: Chu, Zhi Yong
• Other Authors: Charles Yang Chun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Environmental engineering::Water treatment; Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/139155
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Chlorination based water treatment has been long used to prevent water borne disease for a century. However, there are some controversies and drawbacks from using chlorination such as the increase in risk by correlation of Bladder cancer due to the chlorine reacting with organic matter in water creating by-products like Trihalomethane. Alternative disinfection process uses UV rays, which are higher in operating cost and have a potential for pathogenicity revival after several days. A new and emerging idea of using irreversible electroporation for bacterial inactivation in water treatment have been an ongoing research for the past two decades. The advantage of using electroporation, is being able to rip apart the defensive mechanism bacteria cell membranes and has the potential to cause irreversible damage to the bacteria cell membrane. Hence, the organelles of the bacteria cell will diffuse out of the cell, destroying and inactivating the whole cell structure.