Full Description

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce toxins and tastes and odors that cansignificantly impair water quality. The removal of cyanobacterial cells withoutcell damage could significantly reduce the concentration of tastes, odors, andtoxic cell metabolites present in treated water. Cultured cyanobacterium,hepatotoxic Microcystis aeruginosa, was mixed with reservoir water to simulatewater entering a treatment plant during an algal bloom. A bench-top jar-testapparatus (flocculation) and a full-scale pilot plant(flocculation-sedimentation-filtration) rated at 600 mL/min were used to evaluatethe effectiveness of conventional water treatment processes in removingcyanobacterial cells. Removal of cells by flocculation using a jar-test apparatuswith aluminum sulfate dosed at concentrations used in water treatment practicevaried between 70 and 83%. Results obtained from the pilot experiment indicated99.9% of the cells were removed. More important, no additional release ofmicrocystin (toxin) was found in the finished water. Includes 37 references, tables, figures.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. 93 - No. 2 Published: 02/01/2001 Number of Pages: 12 File Size: 1 file , 510 KB