Biocidal effects of photocatalytic semiconductor TiO2.

Photocatalytic action of the commercial TiO(2) was the subject of study on the destruction of the microbes within the biofilms. The TiO(2) powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for identifying its type and the particle size was determined. The biofilm was allowed to form over TiO(2) coatings over glass slides irradiated with polychromatic light for different time durations and distances. It indicates that a five-fold decrease in bacterial count due to the formation of H(2)O(2) at TiO(2)/biofilm interface. The formation of H(2)O(2) at the TiO(2)/biofilm interface is estimated and it does not destroy the entire bacterial population within the biofilm. Bacterial killing effect is supported by FT-IR analysis.