Processes influencing the destruction of microcystin-LR by TiO₂ photocatalysis

<p>We have previously reported the effectiveness of TiO<sub style="border: 0px; font-size: 0.75em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', 'Arial Unicode', Arial, 'URW Gothic L', Helvetica, Tahoma, 'Cambria Math', sans-serif; line-height: 0; color: rgb(46, 46, 46); text-align: justify; word-spacing: -1.0356148481369px;">2</sub> photocatalysis in the destruction of the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR [P.K.J. Robertson, L.A. Lawton, B. Münch, J. Rouzade, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 4 (1997) 393; P.K.J. Robertson, L.A. Lawton, B. Münch, B.J.P.A. Cornish, J. Adv. Oxid. Technol., in press]. In this paper we report an investigation of factors which influence the rate of the toxin destruction at the catalyst surface. A primary kinetic isotope effect of approximately 3 was observed when the destruction was performed in a heavy water solvent. Hydroxylated compounds were observed as products of the destruction process. No destruction was observed when the process was investigated under a nitrogen atmosphere.</p>