Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most
common and toxic variant of
the group of microcystins (MCs) produced during the formation of harmful
cyanobacterial blooms. Geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB)
may also be produced during cyanobacterial blooms and can taint water
causing undesirable taste and odor. The photocatalytic degradation
of MC-LR, GSM, and MIB in water under both UV-A and solar light in
the presence of reduced graphene oxide–TiO2 composite
(GO–TiO2) was studied. Two commercially available
TiO2 materials (Degussa P25 and Kronos) and a reference
TiO2 material prepared in the laboratory (ref-TiO2) were used for comparison. Under UV-A irradiation, Degussa P25 was
the most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of all target
analytes followed by GO–TiO2, ref-TiO2, and Kronos. Under solar light irradiation GO–TiO2 presented similar photocatalytic activity to Degussa P25, followed
by Kronos and ref-TiO2 which were less efficient. Intermediate
products formed during the photocatalytic process with GO–TiO2 under solar light were identified and were found to be almost
identical to those observed by Degussa P25/UV-A. Assessment of the
residual toxicity of MC-LR during the course of treatment with GO–TiO2 showed that toxicity is proportional only to the remaining
MC-LR concentration. The photocatalytic performance of GO–TiO2 was also evaluated under solar light illumination in real
surface water samples, and GO–TiO2 proved to be
effective in the degradation of all target compounds.
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