Visit to ERDC CHL and EL, Vicksburg MS, USA from 7-12 March 2014 for research collaboration in Water resources research on blue-green algae
Abstract
PHYSICOCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF CYANOBACTERIA AND CYANOTOXINS BY HYDRODYNAMIC CAVITATION AND ADVANCED OXIDATION Harmful algal blooms (HABs) continue to be a serious issue facing the maintenance of healthy waterways in the USA and South Africa. The treatment of HABs in contaminated waters is a great challenge as the disruption of cyanobacteria cells causes the release of cyanotoxins. In addition to cyanobacteria removal, it is also necessary to treat the toxins generated by the algae. The most current treatment technologies include the use of radical materials such as ozone (03) and hydrogen peroxide (H20 2) to effectively decrease microcystin concentrations in aquatic environments. However, there are concerns that strong oxidants like 0 3 and H20 2 may adversely impact other organisms. The following collaboration aspects were identified namely the combined effect of hydrodynamic cavitation and advanced oxidation to 1) remove cyanobacteria and its associated toxins from water under various cavitation fields, and 2) determine the oxygen species generated from each cavitation and field intensity. We hypothesize that the mechanism of hydrodynamic cavitation will structurally damage the membranes of the cyanobacteria while radicals generated from the cavitation fields oxidize toxins released from the disrupted cell membranes. Hydrodynamic cavitation alone produces micro bubbles that generate strong tu rbulence during the collapsing of bubbles. These mechanical forces affect the cyanobacteria membranes by damaging the cell wall, rendering the injured algae, as well as its toxins, more sensitive to superoxiádation. The resulting cavitation fields produce oxygen radicals without additional oxidizing agents.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510075
Entities
People
- Paul Oberholster
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research