Assessment and mechanisms of microalgae growth inhibition by phosphonates: Effects of intrinsic toxicity and complexation

Abstract

The effects of phosphonates, the heavily-used antiscalants in reverse osmosis systems, on microalgae are controversial, although they are harmless to most aquatic organisms. Herein, we assessed the inhibitory effects of etidronic acid (HEDP) and diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DTPMP) on algal growth and revealed the mechanisms involved in both intrinsic toxicity and complexation. The phosphonates showed weak influences on Scenedesmus sp. LX1 in the first 4 d of cultivation. In contrast, a significant growth inhibition was observed subsequently with half maximal effective concentrations of 57.6 and 35.7 mg/L for HEDP and DTPMP, respectively, at 10 d. The phosphonates had little effect on cellular energy transfer and oxidative stress, quantified by adenosine triphosphate level and superoxide dismutase activity, respectively, demonstrating weak intrinsic toxicities to algal cells. Phosphonates blocked the algal assimilation of iron ions through complexation. Severe iron deficiency limited photosynthetic activity and caused chlorophyll decline, resulting in a functional loss of the photosystem followed by complete algal growth inhibition at the late cultivation stage. Our findings point to a potential ecological impact wherein harmful algal blooms are induced by the natural degradation of phosphonates due to the release of both iron and phosphate ions that stimulate algal regrowth after disinhibition.