Future directions for management and treatment of algal blooms: A case study of filamentousCyanobacteria in Dianchi Lake

Abstract

In March of each year, dormant spores of filamentous cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flosaquae) responsible for algal blooms in Dianchi Lake start to revive as the temperature reaches around 14 degrees Celsius. The apparent succession phenomenon between filamentous cyanobacteria and microcystis algae has made it one of the dominant species of eutrophication in Dianchi Lake. So far, China has invested more than 50 billion RMB in the treatment of eutrophication in Dianchi Lake, but the situation remains far from optimistic, with water quality only being classified as Class IV. To achieve sustainable development in Dianchi Lake water quality treatment and restoration, it is important to consider the economic value of the treatment products while implementing the remediation. Filamentous cyanobacteria, one of the main pollutants of eutrophication in water bodies, can be used to extract AFA-phycocyanin, which has been identified as a complex of C-phycocyanin/allophycocyanin, phycobiliproteins (including the chromophore phycoviolobilin), AFA-photosynthetic pigments, and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA). These extracts can be used in nutritional cosmetics and pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention or treatment of diseases, disorders, or symptoms involving acute or chronic inflammation, oxidative denaturation of cellular or tissue, or uncontrolled cell proliferation. By extracting and processing filamentous cyanobacteria, its economic value can be increased, treatment costs can be reduced, and contributions can be made to the sustainable development of algal bloom pollution control in Dianchi Lake.