Development of a mercury‐free ultraviolet high‐pressure plasma discharge for disinfection

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is a critical and growing application for the disinfec-tion of water. Current UV systems for disinfection applications are designed around the use of Low-Pressure and High-Pressure mercury-based lamps. Increasing demand to reduce and ideally remove the use of mercury requires innovative adaptations and novel approaches to current technology. A potential alternative technology could be Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), with current low efficiencies, high costs and low operating powers, a development gap for a high-power mer-cury source has been identified. A mercury-free tellurium-based high-pressure plasma was developed and assessed. Though relatively low efficiencies were measured compared to current mercury-based technology rapid improvements are likely obtainable. Such an approach enables a novel adaptation to current technology utilising established: manufacturing facilities, approaches of UV system design and validation protocols. As a consequence, it offers the potential for a rapid low-cost transition to mercury-free UV disinfection where no alternative is currently available