Bacteriophage MS2 and titanium dioxide heteroaggregation: effects of ambient light and the presence of quartz sandBacteriophage MS2 and titanium dioxide heteroaggregation: effects of ambient light and the presence of quartz sand Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2020-05-282019enNanoparticles (NPs) are used in numerous applications and have been observed to accumulate in natural water bodies, including aquifers where they can interact with suspended colloids and viruses. This study examines the attachment of bacteriophage MS2 onto titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) anatase NPs using three different MS2 concentrations. Batch experiments, were conducted at room temperature to investigate the effect of ambient light and the presence of quartz sand on MS2 and TiO 2 NPs heteroaggregation. Appropriate attachment isotherms were determined. Extended DLVO (XDLVO) theory was used to quantify the various interaction energy profiles. The results of batch experiments demonstrated that MS2 attachment onto TiO 2 NPs was favored in the presence of sand under ambient light, while under dark conditions no clear trend was observed. Estimated XDLVO interaction energy profiles indicated that hydrophobic interactions may play a major role and influence the aggregation and heteroaggregation of MS2 and TiO 2 NPs, as well as the simultaneous attachment of MS2 and TiO 2 NPs onto quartz sand.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces180281-288 Syngouna Vasiliki Συγγουνα Βασιλικη Chrysikopoulos Constantinos Χρυσικοπουλος Κωνσταντινος Elsevier Ambient light Attachment MS2 Quartz sand TiO 2