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ZnO–montmorillonite as Photocatalyst and Flocculant for Inhibition of Cyanobacterial Bloom

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Abstract

The cyanobacterial bloom in water has adversely affected water quality, local economies, and human health. Therefore, the removal and restricting the growth of harmful algae are of particular interest. In this study, ZnO–montmorillonite that could flocculate and restrict the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa, used as a probe of cyanobacterial, was prepared by hydrothermal solution intercalation method and characterized by means of XRD, IR, and TEM. In ZnO–montmorillonite, ZnO nanoparticles were either embedded in the interlayer space of montmorillonite or dispersed on montmorillonite surface. The determinations of chlorophyll a levels, total soluble protein content, and malondialdehyde concentration demonstrated that ZnO–montmorillonite had stronger flocculation effect on M. aeruginosa compared with natural montmorillonite and ZnO under visible light and had a better photocatalytic degradation effect on M. aeruginosa than ZnO under UV irradiation after 1 h. Under UV, 95 % removal efficiency was achieved for M. aeruginosa in 1 h using 50 mg L−1 ZnO–montmorillonite, and the proliferation of M. aeruginosa was totally inhibited due to the high photocatalytic activity and absorption flocculation ability of ZnO–montmorillonite. Furthermore, the cell structure was irreversibly damaged and the cell lysed. The synergy of absorption flocculation and photocatalysis of ZnO–montmorillonite promoted the removal of M. aeruginosa.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Scientific Research Foundation for doctor, Hebei University of Science and Technology (010048).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China

    Na Gu & Xiaohong Yang

  2. School of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050018, Shijiazhuang, China

    Na Gu

  3. School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, 050018, Shijiazhuang, China

    Na Gu, Jinlong Gao, Kuitao Wang & Wencui Dong

  4. Key Laboratory of Medicinal Molecular Chemistry in Hebei Province, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Room 114, No.70.Yuhua Road, Yuhua District, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei, 050018, China

    Na Gu, Jinlong Gao, Kuitao Wang & Wencui Dong

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  1. Na Gu
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  2. Jinlong Gao
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  4. Xiaohong Yang
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Correspondence to Na Gu.

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Gu, N., Gao, J., Wang, K. et al. ZnO–montmorillonite as Photocatalyst and Flocculant for Inhibition of Cyanobacterial Bloom. Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 136 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2407-5

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