Disruption of bacterial cells by photocatalysis of montmorillonite supported titanium dioxide

The photo-induced antibacterial capacity of montmorillonite supported titanium dioxide (TiO2/Mmt for short) was evaluated by using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as modal organisms. The bactericidal activity of TiO2/Mmt was examined by cell viability assay under different illumination modes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and total organic carbon/Total nitrogen (TOC/TN) analyses were employed to investigate the mechanism of the photocatalytic bactericidal process qualitatively and quantitatively. The kinetic data show that TiO2/Mmt has excellent antibacterial performance, and about 99% of both bacteria cells are inactivated within 75 min illumination. The AFM images demonstrate that the bacterial cells are irreversibly decomposed and some cell components are dissolved. Therefore, the content and phase of carbon and nitrogen in the solution are changed after photocatalytic reaction.