Remove of marine plankton by photocatalysts with Aurivillius-type structure

The oxides gamma-Bi2MoO6, Bi2WO6, and Bi2W2O9 with Aurivillius-type structure have been tested as photocatalysts in the inactivation of the marine microalgae Amphidium carterae and Tetraselmis suecica. The photocatalysts were synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction and characterized by different techniques such as XRD, DRS, SEM, and BET surface area. The combination UV irradiation/photocatalyst was effective to eliminate both types of algae. The binary oxides studied showed a higher photocatalytic activity to eliminate the alga A. carterae (30 min) with respect to the elimination of the alga T. suecica (60 min). (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.