For the mitigation of blue-green algae several chemical treatments have been applied over the years including harmful pesticides and algaecides. With their usage been prohibited in many US states and the European Union, alternative treatments that are more environmentally friendly needed to be apply. Hydrogen peroxide (HP) is currently being applied in contaminated with cyanobacteria sites, since studies have shown that cyanobacteria are more sensitive to HP treatment than green algae. However, dense blooms require high doses of HP that distress the remaining ecosystem (including zooplankton and phytoplankton). To address this problem, slow releasing HP metallic granules were used in this study as an alternative approach to liquid solution HP application. Specifically, calcium peroxide and magnesium peroxide granules were applied in surface water matrix from the Kouris Reservoir in Cyprus to examine: (a) their HP releasing properties with varying pH values, (b) their mitigation efficiency on Microcystis sp. bloom in comparison with HP liquid application and (c) their toxicity on Gammarus sp. in a range of concentrations. Results showed that in acidified environments granules have higher HP releasing capacity. Moreover, treatment of Microcystis sp. with CaO2 outperformed MgO2 and it can be safely applied in concentrations &lt; 3 g/L granules as an alternative method to direct HP application.

Mitigation of harmful cyanobacterial with metallic peroxide granules: pH effect on hydrogen peroxide release kinetics and toxicity study on invertebrates

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.