Bacteriophage removal by Ni/Al layered double hydroxide in batch and flow-through column experiments

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the removal of the bacteriophage MS2 by Ni/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). Batch experiments were performed using a powder form of Ni/Al LDH under various conditions. Column experiments were also performed under flow-through conditions with Ni/Al LDH coated sand. Batch tests showed that the powder form of Ni/Al LDH was effective for bacteriophage removal under the given experimental conditions (LDH dose of 2.5 g L⁻¹; initial MS2 concentration of 1.35 × 10⁵ plaque forming unit (pfu) mL⁻¹) with a removal capacity of 5.5 × 10⁷ pfu g⁻¹. The results also indicated that the effect of the solution pH on the bacteriophage removal was minimal at pH 4.3−9.4. The influence of divalent anions (SO²⁻ ₄, CO²⁻ ₃, HPO²⁻ ₄; concentrations 1−100 mM) on the removal of the bacteriophage was significant, while the effects of monovalent anions (NO⁻ ₃, Cl⁻) were negligible. Column experiments showed that the log removal of MS2 was 4.51 in columns containing 100% Ni/Al LDH-coated sand, while it was 0.02 in columns containing 100% quartz sand (initial MS2 concentration of approximately 7.0 × 10⁵ pfu mL⁻¹; flow rate of 0.5 mL min⁻¹). These findings indicated that Ni/Al LDH-coated sand was far more effective at removing bacteriophage than sand alone. This study demonstrates that Ni/Al LDH can be used for virus removal in water treatment and filtration applications.

Keywords:

• Bacteriophage MS2 removal
• batch experiment
• column experiment
• LDH-coated sand
• Ni/Al layered double hydroxide

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Korea (grant number: 2011-0009688).