Issue 3, 2016

Emerging investigators series: virus mitigation by coagulation: recent discoveries and future directions

Abstract

Waterborne viruses are widespread and persistent in the environment. Coagulation is an effective process for mitigating viruses in drinking water. This review examines recent studies of virus mitigation by coagulation processes in the context of the latest scientific advances. Virus sorption is impacted by electrostatic forces, as well as the hydrophobic effect, steric hindrance, hydrodynamics and interactions with the water matrix. Organic matter in the water may hinder or enhance sorption, depending on virus structure and environmental factors. In addition to physical separation in flocs, coagulation processes have been shown to inactivate viruses. This review evaluates reports of virus inactivation due to coagulation processes from both a process and experimental perspective. The use of bacteriophages as surrogates for human viruses is discussed, and future research needs relevant to virus coagulation are identified.

Graphical abstract: Emerging investigators series: virus mitigation by coagulation: recent discoveries and future directions

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
03 Mar 2016
Accepted
08 Apr 2016
First published
12 Apr 2016

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2016,2, 443-459

Emerging investigators series: virus mitigation by coagulation: recent discoveries and future directions

J. Heffron and B. K. Mayer, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2016, 2, 443 DOI: 10.1039/C6EW00060F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements