Author(s)

Chao Zhao, Yingnan Yang, Zhenya Zhang

Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) under simulated solar light using Pt modified nano-sized tungsten trioxides (Pt/WO3). Photocatalytic activity was higher during the degradation of MC-LR with Pt/WO ₃ than with pure WO ₃ or Ti _O2 . The catalyst loading greatly affect the degradation performance. The rate of degradation is influenced by the initial pH of the reaction solution. This study also investigates the photocatalytic inactivation of cyanobacteria. The results show that the algal growth was successfully controlled by the Pt/W O ₃ . This study suggests Pt/W O ₃ photocatalytic oxidation with solar light is a promising treatment for water containing MC-LR.

Microcystin-LR; Photocatalytic Degradation; Solar Light; Tungsten Trioxide

C. Zhao, Y. Yang and Z. Zhang, "Photocatalytic Treatment of Microcystin-LR-Containing Wastewater Using Pt/WO ₃ Nanoparticles under Simulated Solar Light," Open Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol. 2 No. 2, 2012, pp. 86-92. doi: 10.4236/ojapps.2012.22011.