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Systematic studies of TiO2-based photocatalysts anti-algal effects on Chlorella vulgaris

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Abstract

In this study, the validity of TiO2-based photocatalysts anti-algal effects was examined with Chlorella vulgaris. Cu-modified TiO2 (without N dopants) showed clear anti-algal effect under white LED light. N-doped TiO2 (both with and without Cu modification) and Cu-modified TiO2 (without N dopants) showed clear anti-algal effects when UV light was used together with white LED light. S-doped TiO2 had no anti-algal effects and even promoted the growth of algae. The degree of the anti-algal effect differed depending on the dopants, surface modifications, and irradiation light. Photocatalysts create several active spices during their photocatalytic processes. Of these, the effects of superoxide radical (O ·−2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on algae growth were examined. Photocatalysts with high anti-algal effect produced hydrogen peroxides effectively, while there was no correlation between productivity of superoxide radical and anti-algal effects. Thus, the ability to produce hydrogen peroxide is a plausible factor for determining the efficiency of the anti-algal effect of a photocatalysts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the Strategic International Collaborative Research Program (SICORP) of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan

      Norihiro Suzuki, Takuo Sanada, Chiaki Terashima, Tomonori Suzuki, Tadao Arai, Kazuya Nakata, Ken-ichi Katsumata, Takeshi Kondo, Makoto Yuasa & Akira Fujishima

    2. Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan

      Takuo Sanada, Tomonori Suzuki, Kazuya Nakata, Takeshi Kondo & Makoto Yuasa

    3. Takenaka Research and Development Institute, Takenaka Corporation, 1-5-1, Ohtsuka, Inzai, Chiba, 270-1395, Japan

      Satoshi Saitou & Toshio Saitou

    4. Environmental Engineering Department, Takenaka Corporation, 1-1-1, Shinsuna, Koto, Tokyo, 136-0075, Japan

      Tetsufumi Kawashima & Atsushi Mizutani

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    1. Norihiro Suzuki
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    Correspondence to Norihiro Suzuki.

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    Norihiro Suzuki and Takuo Sanada have contributed equally to this work.

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    Suzuki, N., Sanada, T., Terashima, C. et al. Systematic studies of TiO2-based photocatalysts anti-algal effects on Chlorella vulgaris . J Appl Electrochem 47, 197–203 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-016-1031-4

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-016-1031-4

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