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<p>Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst is synthesized by solvothermal method. Morphology and structure of Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst are analyzed by SEM, XRD and N<sub>2</sub> sorption technique. The catalytic performances and reaction kinetics of Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) are investigated. The toxicity effect of Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst on yeast <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> is also studied. The results show pure Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst with truncated octahedron morphology is obtained and demonstrates good potential on degradation of MB. The degree of MB degradation is improved significantly in the presence of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, and the optimum H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2 </sub>concentration is 1.3 wt%. The degradation rate constant decreases as the initial MB concentration increases, and the degradation reaction can be represented by pseudo-first-order kinetics model. Cu<sub>2</sub>O photocatalyst shows a good reusability and slight limited growth rate of <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>, suggesting it can serve as an effective and recyclable photocatalyst.</p>
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