Preparation of Triiodide Resin Using Potassium Iodide and Peracetic Acid: Application to Wastewater Treatment

Triiodide resin has an antimicrobial effect on bacteria in water. In the traditional TR manufacturing method, potassium iodide (KI) and crystalline I2 are reacted to form triiodide ion (I3−). However, I2 is difficult to use and store because it is vaporizable and poorly soluble in water. This study was conducted to develop a method of producing triiodide resin (TR) without using crystalline I2. A chemical radical reaction between a commercially available peracetic acid (PAA) solution and a potassium iodide (KI) solution was used to produce I2 and I3− ions, which combined with a strong basic anion exchange resin to produce TR. The disinfection of pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.) present in anaerobically digested livestock wastewater is essential prior to its discharge into public water systems or marine environments, in order to safeguard environmental integrity and public health. Anaerobically treated contaminated livestock wastewater was sterilized through three rounds of treatment with a TR column and prepared by the oxidation of a 100 mM KI solution.