title: Chlorophyll catalyse the photo-transformation of carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene in water.
abstract: Algal blooms cause great damage to water quality and aquaculture. However, this study showed that dead algal cells and chlorophyll could accelerate the photo-transformation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a ubiquitous and persistent pollutant with potently mutagenic and carcinogenic toxicities, under visible light irradiation. Chlorophyll was found to be the major active substance in dead algal cells, and generated a high level of singlet oxygen to catalyse the photo-transformation of BaP. According to various BaP metabolites formed, the degradation mechanism was proposed as that chlorophyll in dead algal cells photo-oxidized BaP to quinones via photocatalytic generation of singlet oxygen. The results provided a good insight into the role of chlorophyll in the photo-transformation of organic contaminants and could be a possible remediation strategy of organic pollutants in natural environment.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences/School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences/School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Xueying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences/School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Baowei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences/School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Instrumental Analysis and Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Nora F Y
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, South China Sea Bio-Resource Exploitation and Utilization Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences/School of Marine Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Tiangang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luan
mesh_terms: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000737:chemistry*; D055162:Biocatalysis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D005068:Eutrophication / Q000502:physiology; D005618:Fresh Water; D008027:Light; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011809:Quinones / Q000737:chemistry*; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011809:Quinones; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002734:Chlorophyll; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene