Water-lifting aerator reduces algal growth in stratified drinking water reservoir: Novel insights into algal metabolic profiling and engineering applications. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Haihan; Yan, Miaomiao; Huang, Tinglin; Huang, Xin; Yang, Shangye; Li, Nan; Wang, Na
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 266:Part 1(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Artificial mixing -- Chlorophyll fluorescence parameter -- Drinking water reservoir -- Harmful algal blooms -- Water-lifting aerator (WLA); Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115384
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Water-lifting aerator (WLA) which was developed by Professor Tinglin Huang at Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, China has multi-functional water quality improvement that significantly inhibits the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in deep drinking water reservoirs. However, the biological mechanism of WLA to the suppress algal growth has not been comprehensively understood. Here, the cellular mechanism that allows WLA to control HABs was explored based on the combination of both laboratory simulation and field investigation. Under simulated hydrodynamic conditions, the results showed that the cell density, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and dehydrogenase activity in Microcystis aeruginosa all peaked under light conditions at 25 °C. The metabolic activity of M . aeruginosa varied significantly under low temperature at 6 °C and light conditions when cultured for 48 h. The extracellular organic matter (EOM) and intracellular organic matter (IOM) contents of M . aeruginosa were both resolved into three components. Moreover, the total fluorescence intensities from EOM and IOM both peaked under light conditions at 25 °C. The field investigation showed that the growth of algae was decreased significantly in Lijiahe drinking water reservoir with WLA application. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased significantly after vertical mixing, thereby indicating that the WLA weakened the photosynthetic ability and reduced the biological activity of algae in situ . In addition, the WLA significantly affected the vertical distribution of the phytoplankton community composition. Altogether, these results shed new lights on understanding the control of algal blooms by WLA in stratified drinking water reservoirs. WLA has broad prospect of engineering applications, which can control algal blooms of water supply resources in situ, therefore, reduce the content of disinfection by-products in drinking water treatment plants. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The artificial mixing that inhibit algal growth in the reservoir was explored. Physiological activity of the cells was affected under simulated conditions. Vertical mixing reduced the photosynthetic ability of algae in reservoir. The artificial mixing significantly altered the algal density and community. Water-lifting aerator can be used to control algal blooms in the reservoir.