Degradation of Cochlodinium polykrikoides using photocatalytic reactor with TiO2-coated alumina

Cochlodinium polykrikoides (C. polykrikoides) is one of the most harmful red tide dinoflagellates due to its great economic damage and compromising recreational opportunity and public health. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is known to be used as a photocatalyst for the control of the aquatic invasive algae under natural and artificial light. The purpose of this study was to design a highly efficient continuous photocatalytic reactor with TiO₂-coated alumina for the demonstrated efficient degradation of C. polykrikoides. TiO₂ photocatalyst beads were prepared by sol-gel dip-coating method using titanium tetra iso-propoxide on alumina. After 40 min of ultraviolet illumination time, the reduction of C. polykrikoides cell number was more than 80%. The degree of degradation of C. polykrikoides increased in a time-dependent manner in this novel reactor. The degradation begins with photocatalytic action by the oxidative species of TiO₂ on the protective cell structures of C. polykrikoides.