Photocatalytic membrane technology for household water disinfection
Patented photocatalytic membrane technology for household-scale water disinfection that combines physical filtration with visible-light-activated photocatalytic disinfection. The mixed-matrix membrane removes protozoa and bacteria through size exclusion while nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide deactivates viruses and small bacteria under visible light, requiring no additional energy input for filtration.
Overview
This solution adapts a patented photocatalytic water purification technology for efficient household-scale disinfection. The approach combines a mixed-matrix hollow fiber membrane with nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) to deliver two complementary disinfection mechanisms in a single system. The membrane's optimized pore structure physically removes waterborne pathogens such as Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia, and larger pathogenic bacteria under normal tap water pressure, eliminating the need for additional energy input during filtration. Simultaneously, the embedded N-TiO2 photocatalyst is activated by visible light to deactivate smaller pathogens including viruses and small-sized bacteria that may pass through the membrane pores.
Technical specifications
- Dual-action disinfection: Physical size exclusion through optimized membrane pores combined with photocatalytic deactivation under visible light irradiation
- Energy-efficient filtration: Operates at normal household tap water pressure without pumps or external power for the filtration step
- Visible-light-activated photocatalysis: Nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-TiO2) embedded in the mixed matrix enables photocatalytic disinfection using ambient or low-intensity visible light rather than requiring UV sources
- Broad pathogen coverage: Designed to address enteric protozoa (Cryptosporidium, Giardia), pathogenic bacteria (e.g., E. coli), and viruses (e.g., adenovirus)
- Hollow fiber membrane format: Mixed-matrix hollow fiber design provides high surface area and scalable configuration for point-of-use deployment
Technology readiness level
The underlying photocatalytic water purification technology is patented and has been previously demonstrated. Current development focuses on adapting the technology specifically for household-scale disinfection applications. Planned validation activities include developing photocatalytic mixed-matrix hollow fiber membranes with optimized pore size and structure, evaluating removal efficiency against protozoan pathogens, and assessing deactivation efficiency for bacteria and viruses under combined membrane filtration and visible-light photocatalytic disinfection. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development, with ongoing research aimed at demonstrating combined filtration and photocatalytic disinfection performance before commercial readiness.
About University of Missouri, Columbia
Founded as Missouri’s flagship land‑grant, the University of Missouri–Columbia is a comprehensive public research university serving a large student body and partners statewide. Industry engages on campus through co‑located research cores, a research park and incubator in Columbia, and access to a high‑power university research reactor supporting isotope production and advanced testing. An integrated academic health system enables clinical studies and translation, while a statewide extension and agricultural research network links companies to field sites, producers, and community testbeds across Missouri. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, USDA, and DOE. A dedicated tech transfer office supports IP, licensing, and sponsored‑research agreements.
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