In controlling harmful algal bloom (HAB), direct intervention methods such as sophorolipid-clay flocculation and algicidal bacteria dispersal have been suggested. These control methods, however, can compromise water quality and also threaten bottom-dwelling organisms by clogging their filters for feeding. This research assesses the removal efficiency of the algicidal nanoweb and the rate of its biodegradation through both natural biodegradation and enzymatic degradation test. The removal efficiency was tested on Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena flos-aquae, the two representative species of cyano-HAB.  Under the enzymatic degradation test, polylactide nanowebs had 93.4% weight loss by the sixth day while the polylactide film lost only 15% of its weight even after 14 days. Thus, these studies show the utility of HAB removal polylactide nanoweb as a biodegradable tool for countering the adverse effects of HAB.

Biodegradable polylactide nanoweb for harmful algal bloom control

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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