Degradation of microcystin toxins in a falling film photocatalytic reactor with immobilized titanium dioxide catalyst.

The increasing incidence of algal blooms in fresh water supplies and the consequent possibility of cyanobacterial microcystin contamination of potable water is a cause of recent concern. Heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation forms part of a family of advanced water treatment technologies comprising the generation of reactive oxidizing species in water media and results in the complete oxidative degradation (mineralization) of organic pollutants to yield carbon dioxide, water and inorganic ions. A new experimental laboratory-scale 'falling film' reactor has been developed to study the photocatalytic degradation of microcystins in aqueous solution. The reactor consisted of a fiberglass sheet impregnated with immobilized titanium dioxide (TiO2) catalyst over which the microcystin solution was pumped (as a falling film) while being irradiated from UV-C germicidal lamps. The design of the system obviated the necessity to separate suspended catalyst from treated water as required in slurry reactors. The photocatalytic degradation was characterized by pseudo-first order reaction kinetics. Rapid degradation of microcystins LR, YR and RR was observed in natural lake water with half lives less than 10 min, while even faster rates were achieved in laboratory distilled water. Although low pH (pH 3) marginally improved reaction rates. the presence of radical scavengers such as sulfate ions was detrimental to the photocatalytic oxidation process.