Abstract
Cyanobacteria and their toxins present potential hazards to consumers of water from lakes, reservoirs and rivers; thus, their removal via water treatment is essential. Previously, we demonstrated that nanocomposites of octadecyltrimethyl ammonium (ODTMA) complexed with clay could efficiently remove cyanobacteria and their toxins from laboratory cultures and lake water. In this study, we determined the capacity of ODTMA nanocomposites to remove cyanotoxins, namely microcystins (MCs), from water to below 1 µg/L via filtration. This capacity was 1500 mg MC-LR per Kg of nanocomposite. Similar capacities were estimated for the removal of other MC congeners (MC-WR, MC-3aspWR and MC-YR), whereas substantially lower capacities were recorded for more positively charged MC congeners, such as MC-RR and MC-3aspRR. Filtration results were simulated with a filtration model, which considers convection and adsorption/desorption of one to several toxins. Model calculations for the removal of MC-LR, under a variety of situations, fitted well with all the experimentally measured values and also estimated the co-removal of several MC congeners. In agreement with model predictions, results demonstrated that in the presence of MC-WR, the emerging concentrations of MC-RR congeners eventually exceed their solution values. In conclusion, granulated nanocomposites of ODTMA–bentonite can be applied for the removal of microcystins from drinking water.
Highlights
Cyanobacteria are notorious for producing water blooms
In the search for an efficient technology that may rapidly and reliably remove cells of cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton species from water, we recently demonstrated that cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins could be removed from lake water by filtration through a bed of granulated composites of bentonite with micelles of octadecyltrimethyl ammonium cation (ODTMA) [6]
The current study focuses on the removal of cyanobacteria toxins, microcystins, from contaminated water by filtration through a bed of micelle–clay complex ODTMA– bentonite granules
Summary
Cyanobacteria are notorious for producing water blooms. Toxic cyanobacterial blooms present an ever-increasing, serious threat to the quality of drinking water worldwide. In the search for an efficient technology that may rapidly and reliably remove cells of cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton species from water, we recently demonstrated that cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins could be removed from lake water by filtration through a bed of granulated composites of bentonite with micelles of octadecyltrimethyl ammonium cation (ODTMA) [6]. This granulated composite was reported to be efficient in the removal of microorganisms from water [7,8,9,10]. The current study focuses on the removal of cyanobacteria toxins, microcystins, from contaminated water by filtration through a bed of micelle–clay complex ODTMA– bentonite granules. A filtration model which considers convection and adsorption/desorption of the toxins was applied to simulate the removal of several MC congeners and demonstrated reliable application of nanocomposite granules for cyanotoxin removal from water
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
