Actinometric Methods to Assess Fluence for Ultraviolet Water Disinfection: A Systematic Review
- 1Mechanical Engineering
- 2Pennsylvania State University
- 3Institute of Energy and the Environment
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is a chemical-free treatment technology that is effective at inactivating a broad range of waterborne microbial pathogens. Ensuring safe and reliable disinfection performance for these systems requires accurate determination of the UV fluence delivered within the water treatment environment. Conventional fluence determination approaches, including biodosimetry and radiometry, exhibit limitations related to pathogen availability, spatial averaging, directional sensitivity, and applicability in enclosed systems. Chemical actinometry offers an alternative approach based on photochemical transformations that integrate the effective UV fluence within a system. However, its application in UV disinfection research remains fragmented, with limited guidance on selecting and implementing appropriate actinometric methods under different conditions. This systematic review aims to inform the application of chemical actinometers to assess the UV fluence for water disinfection systems. The review covers the application of commonly used actinometers, including potassium iodide/iodate, potassium ferrioxalate, uridine, and hydrogen peroxide, across a range of UV sources. The mathematical framework for deriving germicidal UV fluence from actinometric measurements is synthesized, with emphasis on wavelength-dependent behavior and experimental considerations. In addition, key limitations of chemical actinometry, including challenges in translating bench-scale methods to flow-through systems, are evaluated. These findings highlight current knowledge gaps and provide direction for improving the use of chemical actinometry to determine fluence in UV water disinfection systems.
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BibTeX
@misc{seyedin2026actinometric,
title = {{Actinometric Methods to Assess Fluence for Ultraviolet Water Disinfection: A Systematic Review}},
author = {Mahla Seyedin and Margaret M. Busse},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15008373/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008373/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Actinometric Methods to Assess Fluence for Ultraviolet Water Disinfection: A Systematic Review
AU - Mahla Seyedin
AU - Margaret M. Busse
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/06
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15008373/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008373/v1
AB - Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is a chemical-free treatment technology that is effective at inactivating a broad range of waterborne microbial pathogens. Ensuring safe and reliable disinfection performance for these systems requires accurate determination of the UV fluence delivered within the water treatment environment. Conventional fluence determination approaches, including biodosimetry and radiometry, exhibit limitations related to pathogen availability, spatial averaging, directional sensitivity, and applicability in enclosed systems. Chemical actinometry offers an alternative approach based on photochemical transformations that integrate the effective UV fluence within a system. However, its application in UV disinfection research remains fragmented, with limited guidance on selecting and implementing appropriate actinometric methods under different conditions. This systematic review aims to inform the application of chemical actinometers to assess the UV fluence for water disinfection systems. The review covers the application of commonly used actinometers, including potassium iodide/iodate, potassium ferrioxalate, uridine, and hydrogen peroxide, across a range of UV sources. The mathematical framework for deriving germicidal UV fluence from actinometric measurements is synthesized, with emphasis on wavelength-dependent behavior and experimental considerations. In addition, key limitations of chemical actinometry, including challenges in translating bench-scale methods to flow-through systems, are evaluated. These findings highlight current knowledge gaps and provide direction for improving the use of chemical actinometry to determine fluence in UV water disinfection systems.
ER -