Effects of photocatalysis using a photocatalytic concrete board on water qualities and microbial communities in the aquaculture wastewater

Abstract

A concrete board coated with a composite photocatalyst (tea polyphenols reduced P25/Ag3PO4) was applied in the aquaculture wastewater treatment. The photocatalytic oxidation inhibited algal growth significantly and decreased the chlorophyll-a concentration by 60.66%. Meanwhile, organic matter was degraded and the nitrogen form was changed during photocatalytic processes. The variations in nutrients and organic matter after the photocatalytic reaction affected the microbial communities resulting in the aquaculture environment changes. The photocatalytic reaction did not increase the acute toxicity of the treated aquaculture water as indicated by a luminescent bacterium. This study provided new insights into the feasibility of employing photocatalytic oxidation as a realistic method for aquaculture wastewater treatment.