title: New semi-pilot-scale reactor to study the photocatalytic inactivation of phages contained in aerosol.
abstract: The aims of this work were to design and build a photocatalytic reactor (UV-A/TiO2) to study the inactivation of phages contained in bioaerosols, which constitute the main dissemination via phages in industrial environments. The reactor is a close system with recirculation that consists of a stainless steel camera (cubic form, side of 60 cm) in which air containing the phage particles circulates and an acrylic compartment with six borosilicate plates covered with TiO2. The reactor is externally illuminated by 20 UV-A lamps. Both compartments are connected by a fan to facilitate the sample circulation. Samples are injected into the camera using two piston nebulizers working in series whereas several methodologies for sampling (impinger/syringe, sampling on photocatalytic plates, and impact of air on slide) were assayed. The reactor setup was carried out using phage B1 (Lactobacillus plantarum), and assays demonstrated a decrease of phage counts of 2.7 log orders after 1 h of photocatalytic treatment. Photonic efficiencies of inactivation were assessed by phage sampling on the photocatalytic plates or by impact of air on a glass slide at the photocatalytic reactor exit. Efficiencies of the same order of magnitude were observed using both sampling methods. This study demonstrated that the designed photocatalytic reactor is effective to inactivate phage B1 (Lb. plantarum) contained in bioaerosols.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Instituto de Lactología Industrial, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santiago del Estero 2829, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariángeles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Briggiler Marcó
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ruta Nacional No. 168, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ruta Nacional No. 168, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina. alfano@intec.unl.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Orlando Mario
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Instituto de Lactología Industrial, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Santiago del Estero 2829, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Andrea Del Luján
authors.initials: ADL
authors.lastname: Quiberoni
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D001435:Bacteriophages; D019149:Bioreactors; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000821:virology; D014025:Titanium; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D038301:Virus Inactivation
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Bioaerosols; Dairy industry; Fermented dairy products; Lactic acid bacteria; Phage inactivation; Photocatalytic reactor