Simultaneous removal of microorganisms and ethyl acetate from fruit storage indoor air using a low-cost photoreactor based on luminous textiles

Escherichia coli ( E. coli), ), Salmonella typhimurium ( S. typhimurium), ), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), and Cladosporium cladosporioides (C. C. cladosporioides), ), as microorganisms, and ethyl acetate (EA), as a volatile organic compound, were chosen as target pollutants to be removed from indoor air. The E. coli degradation was firstly investigated. Second, the simultaneous degradation of all studied microorganisms was assessed. Third, a separate investigation was conducted for EA. These investigations focused on the antibacterial and photocatalytic behaviors of the TiO2, 2 , Ag/TiO2, 2, and Cu/TiO2 2 luminous textiles. Compared to other photocatalysts, the Cu/TiO2, 2 , exhibits the highest bacterial disinfection and EA removal. Fourth, simultaneous degradation of E. coli and EA was assessed with the most efficient photocatalyst. The Cu/TiO2 2 catalyst proved to be efficient by inactivating 4.72log of E. coli, , 5.18log of S. typhimurium, , 4.76log of L. monocytogenes, and 0.61log of C. cladosporioides, , at the same time. The performance of the Cu/TiO2 2 catalyst can be assigned to the intrinsic conduction band and valence band positions of CuO, Cu2O, 2 O, and TiO2. 2 . Using the Cu/TiO2 2 photocatalyst, a bacterial inactivation of 3.63log and an EA degradation efficiency of 91.13% were obtained within 60 min of UV light irradiation. It was unequivocally established that E. coli's 's presence inhibited the removal of EA (reducing from 91.13% to 65.97%), which can be attributed to the humidity effect and the competition reactions of the photocatalyst among E. coli, , EA, and EA by-products. The bactericidal inactivation was equivalent to 3log for E. coli, , but it increased to 4log for the E. coli /EA mixture. The damage caused to bacteria proteins by the by-products of EA was the reason for this outcome. The explanation for E. coli inactivation and EA photodegradation on Cu/TiO2 2 luminous textiles is discussed. The low-cost configuration of a luminous textile photocatalyst used showed a superior performance for the simultaneous elimination of E. coli and EA from indoor air in a modular and low-cost photoreactor.