Sustainable Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation by 3D Printed Photocatalytic Oxidation Devices (3D-PODs)

Abstract

The impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), often caused by cyanobacteria (Figure 1), on water resources are increasing. Innovative solutions for treatment of HABs and their associated toxins are needed to mitigate these impacts and decrease risks without introducing persistent legacy contaminants that cause collateral ecosystem impacts. This technical note (TN) identifies novel opportunities enabled by Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, to produce high surface area advanced material composites to rapidly prototype sustainable environmental solutions for aquatic nuisance species control. This innovative research explores deployment of 3D-printable polymer composite structures containing nano-scale photocatalysts for targeted open water treatment of HABs that are customizable to the site-of-concern and also retrievable, reusable, and sustainable. The approach developed to control cyanobacteria HAB events has the potential to augment or replace broadcast, non-specific chemical controls that otherwise put non-target species and ecological resources at long-term risk. It can also augment existing UV-treatment HAB treatment control measures. The expected research outcome is a novel, effective, and sustainable HAB management tool for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and resource managers to deploy in their HAB rapid response programs. The research will provide a framework for scale-up into other manufacturing methods (e.g., injection molding) to produce the devices in bulk (quickly and efficiently). Research for this project title Mitigation of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins using 3D Printed Photocatalytic Materials (FY21-23) was sponsored by the US Army Engineer Research Development Centers (ERDC) Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program (ANSRP).

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2022
Accession Number
AD1166826

Entities

People

  • Alan James Kennedy
  • Andrew D McQueen
  • Brianna M. Fernando
  • Christopher B Williams
  • Jonna A. Boyda
  • Lauren R. May
  • Mark L. Ballentine
  • Michael J. Bortner

Organizations

  • Engineer Research and Development Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Composite Materials
  • Cyanobacteria
  • Ecology
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Environmental Protection
  • Fish
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Polystyrenes

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Oncology