Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Microcystin-LR in Humic Acid-Rich Water using TiO2/MIL-101(Fe)

Microcystin-LR is a potent hepatotoxin produced by several species of cyanobacteria that can contaminate water bodies, including drinking water sources. The presence of humic acids (HA) in water can inhibit the degradation of microcystin-LR by photocatalytic processes using TiO2 as a catalyst. In this study, we propose to coat TiO2 with MIL-101(Fe) to enhance its photocatalytic activity and overcome the inhibitory effect of HA on the degradation of microcystin-LR.

MIL-101(Fe) is a metal-organic framework (MOF) that has been shown to have excellent adsorption and catalytic properties for various pollutants. The coating of TiO2 with MIL-101(Fe) can provide a larger surface area for adsorption and enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by increasing the separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs.

We will use a batch reactor system to investigate the degradation of microcystin-LR in HA-rich water using TiO2 and TiO2/MIL-101(Fe) as catalysts. The degradation efficiency will be evaluated by monitoring the concentration of microcystin-LR and its degradation products using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The results of this study will provide insight into the potential of using TiO2/MIL-101(Fe) as a catalyst for the degradation of microcystin-LR in HA-rich water. This approach may have significant implications for the treatment of water contaminated with microcystin-LR and other pollutants in the presence of HA.