Effect of chlorine dioxide on cyanobacterial cell integrity, toxin degradation and disinfection by-product formation

Sci Total Environ. 2014 Jun 1:482-483:208-13. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.007. Epub 2014 Mar 18.

Abstract

Bench scale tests were conducted to study the effect of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) oxidation on cell integrity, toxin degradation and disinfection by-product formation of Microcystis aeruginosa. The simulated cyanobacterial suspension was prepared at a concentration of 1.0×10(6)cells/mL and the cell integrity was measured with flow cytometry. Results indicated that ClO2 can inhibit the photosynthetic capacity of M. aeruginosa cells and almost no integral cells were left after oxidation at a ClO2 dose of 1.0mg/L. The total toxin was degraded more rapidly with the ClO2 dosage increasing from 0.1mg/L to 1.0mg/L. Moreover, the damage on cell structure after oxidation resulted in released intracellular organic matter, which contributed to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) as disinfection by-products. Therefore, the use of ClO2 as an oxidant for treating algal-rich water should be carefully considered.

Keywords: Cell integrity; Disinfection by-products; Oxidation; Photosynthetic capacity; Toxin degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chlorine Compounds / metabolism
  • Chlorine Compounds / toxicity*
  • Disinfection / methods*
  • Microcystis / drug effects*
  • Oxides / metabolism
  • Oxides / toxicity*
  • Trihalomethanes / metabolism*
  • Water Microbiology
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • Chlorine Compounds
  • Oxides
  • Trihalomethanes
  • chlorine dioxide