Feasibility of Accessing Safe Water in Developing Countries Using Photocatalytic Technology—A Review

Access to clean drinking water is a global concern. Notably, over one billion people in developing countries out of a total global population of approximately eight billion encounter challenges in accessing safe water. Photocatalytic technology is a potential solution for providing safe drinking water to these communities. However, only a few photocatalytic technologies are currently available. Although the potentialities of the photocatalytic treatment of water pollutants can be demonstrated in the laboratory, several factors hinder its effectiveness in real environmental applications. Additionally, the development of maintenance-free photocatalytic systems that can operate continuously without requiring complex maintenance is limited. Developing countries are unlikely to implement a system if it cannot be used sustainably without complex and/or frequent adjustments, regardless of the advanced technology. This principle is the fundamental premise of this review. This review in which are discusses the conditions necessary for photocatalytic water purification systems to be accepted in developing countries and explores how these systems can be successfully implemented.