Pyrite was used as catalyst to degrade Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) at pH 6.8 under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterization showed that pyrite had the layered structure. The ion state of pyrite before and after the reaction was identified using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), confirming the conversion process of Fe(Ⅱ) to Fe(Ⅲ) on the sulfur defect sites. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) test showed that pyrite photochemical reaction produced hydroxyl radical (·OH). The results of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) showed that visible light irradiation could effectively activate pyrite to degrade MC-LR. The degradation rate of MC-LR reached 100% after 10 hours and the mineralization rate reached 60% after 20 hours. The two reaction pathways of photochemical oxidation of MC-LR by pyrite were discussed.
Keywords: MC-LR; photochemical degradation; pyrite; visible light.