Eco-friendly and effective disinfection of water
The PLASLIGHT project focused on exploiting a high quality and extremely efficient technique for water disinfection. The key design concept was based on a plasma UV source with high flexibility in geometry. The source featured variable wavelength for highly effective water treatment. The source uses an assortment of suitable gas mixtures that are able to generate UV-emitting plasma under optimal conditions. Several of these mixtures were replicated from theoretical work while a few of them came from experimental literature. A significant criterion for their selection was their ability to disinfect water effectively. The plasma source also displays a variable wavelength of light emitted for more efficient treatment of effluent waters. The different wavelengths distinguish among 222nm, 222nm combined with 248nm and 248nm, all of which are suitable for typical effluent water bacteria and other microorganisms in real water. The knowledge gained contributed significantly to the development of an innovative plasma-based water disinfecting process. Apart from the economic benefits derived from its use in the field of drinking water disinfection, there are also numerous social benefits. As such, the PLASLIGHT project results may help to reduce microbiological pollution of coastal waters, rivers and lakes.
