Disinfection of Pythium-infested recirculation water by UV-oxidation technology.

Selective disinfection against Pythium aphanidermatum in recirculation water was tested with UV-irradiation and with UV-oxidation technology with the objective to reduce the electrical energy consumption per cubic meter treated water. UV-oxidation technology is based on injection of hydrogen peroxide in recirculation water, just before passage along a UV-lamp, thus creating hydroxyl radicals. Pythium aphanidermatum was applied artificially to recirculation water from tomatoes, grown, in rockwool and coconut fibre. Other parameters in this study were pH and transmission value (T10) of the infested recirculation water. Results indicated that the recommended UV-C dose of 100 mJ/cm2 for elimination of fungal pathogens in general can be lowered in case recirculation water is infected with Pythium aphanidermatum only. When UV-oxidation technology was applied with 1 mmol hydrogen peroxide per litre recirculation water, the UV-C dose could be reduced even more in comparison with merely UV irradiation.