Optimization method for Microcystis bloom mitigation by hydrogen peroxide and its stimulative effects on growth of chlorophytes

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide (HP) is a feasible algicide to control cyanobacterial blooms, but its application in the waters with strong reductive power is still a problem. The rapid decomposition rate of HP results in a short residence time in the waters, which renders the failure of bloom mitigation. In this study, the damage of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) by HP, the optimization method for Microcystis bloom control and its field effects were investigated. Results of microcosm experiments indicated M. aeruginosa was vulnerable to HP. The HP-induced damage was mainly attributed to the impairments of HP detoxification pathways and photosystem. Repetitive additions of HP, which could prolong the residence time, were conducted in the mesocosm experiments. HP concentration ranged from 96 μM to 165 μM for 2 h could successfully mitigate Microcystis bloom, even though HP decomposition rate reached 109 μM per h. Besides the removal of M. aeruginosa, contents of total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphate, dissolved organic carbon and chromophoric dissolved organic matter in water column increased significantly (p < 0.05). The enrichment of nutrients promoted the growth of chlorophytes but the growth of M. aeruginosa couldn't be observed. The dominant species thrived in the HP-treated waters was Chlamydomonas sp. Results in this study confirmed that HP was a promising algicide for cyanobacterial blooms control. The optimization method further demonstrated that repetitive additions of HP could favor the mitigation of cyanobacterial blooms.