• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 2018

$TiO_2$-embedded expanded polystyrene (TiEPS) balls with powdered $TiO_2$ particles embedded on the surface of EPS were developed, and the growth inhibition of Chlorella ellipsoidea, a green algae, was evaluated. The experiment was conducted using four reactors with various conditions of (A) natural sunlight, (B) natural sunlight + TiEPS balls, (C) dark, and (D) dark + TiEPS balls on the roof of the building during five days. Based on the analysis of cell number, cell morphology, concentrations of chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments, both surface reactions in heterogeneous photocatalysis and light shielding could inhibit the growth of C. ellipsoidea. The highly reactive hydroxyl radicals ($OH{\cdot}$) from TiEPS balls degraded the lipid cell membrane through the peroxidation reaction with the light shielding, eventually resulting in cell inactivation. Although dominant inhibitory effects on the growth of C. ellipsoidea were ambiguous, TiEPS balls were feasible to prevent and inhibit the excessive growth of algae in eutrophic water body.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2016

A new immobilization technique of nanoscale $TiO_2$ powder to expanded polystyrene (EPS) balls with temperature-controlled melting method was developed, and the photocatalytic activity of $TiO_2$ powder-embedded EPS balls were evaluated using methylene blue (MB) solution under ultraviolet irradiation (${\lambda}=254nm$). Based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and associated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, the components of the intact EPS balls were mainly carbon and oxygen, whereas those of $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls were carbon, oxygen, and titanium, indicating that relatively homogenous patches of $TiO_2$ and glycerin film were coated on the surface of EPS balls. Based on the comparison of degradation efficiencies of MB between intact and $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls under UVC illumination, the degradation efficiencies of MB can be significantly improved using $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls, and surface reactions in heterogeneous photocatalysis were more dominant than photo-induced radical reactions in aqueous solutions. Thus, $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS balls were found to be an effective photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic compounds in aqueous solutions without further processes (i.e., separation, recycling, and regeneration of $TiO_2$ powder). Further study is in progress to evaluate the feasibility for usage of buoyant $TiO_2$-immobilized EPS to inhibit the excessive growth of algae in rivers and lakes.