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Abstract
Microcystins are one of the primary hepatotoxic cyanotoxins released from cyanobacteria.
The presence of these compounds in water has resulted in the death of both humans
and domestic and wild animals. Although microcystins are chemically stable titanium
dioxide photocatalysis has proven to be an effective process for the removal of these
compounds in water. One problem with this process is that it requires UV light and
therefore in order to develop effective commercial reactor units that could be powered
by solar light it is necessary to utilize a photocatalyst that is active with visible
light. In this paper we report on the application of four visible light absorbing
photocatalysts for the destruction of microcystin-LR in water. The rhodium doped material
proved to be the most effective material followed by a carbon-modified titania. The
commercially available materials were both relatively poor photocatalysts under visible
radiation while the platinum doped catalyst also displayed a limited activity for
toxin destruction.
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