Quality Improvement of Eutrophic Environments Degraded by Organic Matter, in Experiences Conducted in Sea-Water Microcosms

Abstract

An experience in seawater microcosms was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the zeolite chabazite (CHA) in the mitigation of water eutrophication produced by sediments with high organic load. The experience was conducted in microcosms with addition and in the absence of effective microorganisms (EM). In the absence of EM, the ammonium abatement by CHA compared to the controls without CHA, was elevated only in the first week, while with the addition of EM, the abatement occurred for the entire experience (one month), although gradually reducing, as ammonia releases increased over time. Ammonium releases were 1.4 to 2.3 times lower in CHA microcosms compared to CHA-free controls and, among those in which CHA was present, they were lower in the presence of EM. Soluble orthophosphates also showed a reduction in microcosms with CHA, compared to the control microcosms, with a more marked results in the absence of EM, probably due to the formation of insoluble salts.