Cyanobacteria commonly exist in drinking water sources and can lead to harmful algae blooms (HABs). Seventy percent of HABs can produce potent toxins and thus pose a tremendous risk to humans and environment. One of the more problematic cyanotoxins is cylindrospermopsin (CYN), an alkaloid with a tricyclic guanidine group and uracil ring. A number of studies have been reported on the advanced oxidative degradation of CYN based on the hydroxyl radical (�OH) production. Chemical oxidation processes such as ferrate (VI) are promising technologies due to its large reduction potential (+ 2.2 V). In this study, Fe (VI) as an environmentally friendly oxidant was employed for the degradation of CYN and its model compound 6-hydroxymethyl uracil (6-HOMU). Kinetic studies of Fe(VI) degradation of 6-HOMU were conducted to determine second order rate constants and species-specific rate constants over a range of pH (6.5 ~ 9.5). The results from Fe(VI) degradation of 6-HOMU indicate that second order rate constants increase dramatically with decreasing pH due to changing acid-base speciation of Fe(VI). Kinetic studies of Fe(VI) degradation of CYN are underway. Detailed product studies of CYN using liquid chromatography couple to Q-TOF-MS are also underway to determine the oxidation by-products and elucidate the degradation pathways.

Oxidation of cylindrospermopsin and its model compound 6-hydroxymethyl uracil by ferrate (VI)

248th National Meeting (2014)

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