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. 2017 Feb 1:7:41326.
doi: 10.1038/srep41326.

Efficient electrochemical remediation of microcystin-LR in tap water using designer TiO2@carbon electrodes

Germán Sanz Lobón  1   2   3 , Alfonso Yepez  2 , Luane Ferreira Garcia  3 , Ruiter Lima Morais  3 , Boniek Gontijo Vaz  3 , Veronica Vale Carvalho  3 , Gisele Augusto Rodrigues de Oliveira  1 , Rafael Luque  2 , Eric de Souza Gil  1
Affiliations

Efficient electrochemical remediation of microcystin-LR in tap water using designer TiO2@carbon electrodes

Germán Sanz Lobón et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is the most abundant and toxic secondary metabolite produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. This toxin has a high potential hazard health due to potential interactions with liver, kidney and the nervous system. The aim of this work was the design of a simple and environmentally friendly electrochemical system based on highly efficient nanostructured electrodes for the removal of MC-LR in tap water. Titania nanoparticles were deposited on carbon (graphite) under a simple and efficient microwave assisted approach for the design of the electrode, further utilized in the electrochemical remediation assays. Parameters including the applied voltage, time of removal and pH (natural tap water or alkaline condition) were investigated in the process, with results pointing to a high removal efficiency for MC-LR (60% in tap water and 90% in alkaline media experiments, under optimized conditions).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Reported structure of Microcystin-LR.
Figure 2
Figure 2. SEM and DRX characterization.
(A) SEM images at magnification of 5.000 (I) and 15.000 (II), the numbers represents the points where were done EDX analyses; (B) EDX spectra obtained for C and TiO2@C anodes at the points 1 and 7 respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3. SEM and elemental mapping.
Distribution of TiO2@C (right image) depicting nice and homogeneously distributed Ti in the material (white dots on a black background). Table with C I and TiO2@C I elementary composition.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Electrochemical remediation of MC-LR in TW and AM with commercial electrodes.
Was used C (A) and Ti (B) anodes at different applied voltages (a Pt wire was used as cathode in both cases).
Figure 5
Figure 5. MC-LR remediation by TiO2@C.
Electrochemical removal of MC-LR by using TiO2@C anode (A) and UV spectra (B) for MC-LR solution (a), MC-LR solution after 60 minutes electrolysis at TiO2@C anode in TW condition (b) and pure TW (c).
Figure 6
Figure 6. Electro-degradation activities of the designed TiO2@C DPV.
DP voltammograms obtained for MC-LR before (__) and after anodic treatment (•••) at TiO2@C in TW for 30 minutes and applied voltage of 5 V, both in 0.1 M pH 7.0 PBS at glassy carbon electrode. Scan rate of 10 mV s−1, pulse amplitude of 50 mV.
Figure 7
Figure 7. MC-LR degradation analyses by mass spectrometry.
ESI(+) Q-TOF mass spectra of standard unconverted Microcystin-LR (A), pure Ti wire anode treatment (B), and TiO2@C anode treatment (C). All figures was imported-exported with 600 dpi using CorelDraw 12.0.0.458 but none was edited. Graphics were done with OriginPro 8 SRO. After, they were imported-exported with 600 dpi using CorelDraw 12.0.0.458.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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