Exploring the potential of Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as a better alternative to Hydrogen Peroxide tratment for the IN-SITU mitigation of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (CYANO-HABS)
Date Issued
May 29, 2024
Abstract
14o Πανελλήνιο Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο Χημικής Μηχανικής Θεσσαλονίκη, 29-31 Μαΐου 2024
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF PEROXYMONOSULFATE (PMS) AS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATMENT FOR THE IN-SITU MITIGATION OF CYANOBACTERIA
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (CYANO-HABS)
M. G. Antoniou1,*, E. Keliri1, A. Zindrou2, Υ. Deligiannakis2,3, Ε. Passa4, Κ. Weitzel4, and D.
Dionysiou 4,†
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
2 Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University
of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
3 Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, University Research Center of Ioannina,
Ioannina, Greece
4 Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental
Engineering (DChEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
(*maria.antoniou@cut.ac.cy)
ABSTRACT
Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is a known oxidizing agent used in water treatment (especially in the pool
and spa industry) as it can perform targeted oxidation for the removal of contaminants of emerging
concern and has disinfection properties. Moreover, PMS has been used in bench-scale studies for
the removal of cyanotoxins from drinking water [1], which are a group of naturally occurring toxins
produced from the toxic strains of cyanobacteria [2]. Despite that, there is limited information in the
literature regarding PMS’s application in mitigating toxic cyanobacteria in surface waters. Other
peroxide compounds such as H2O2 have been extensively used on cyanobacteria-contaminated sites
with varying efficiencies [3]. Though efficient, the requirement for high H2O2 doses to restore
contaminated sites can negatively affect non-targeted species of the aquatic ecosystem
(phytoplankton and zooplankton), which impose restrictions on H2O2 in-situ application in surface
waters. Thus herein, PMS was investigated as an alternative peroxide compound for its algicidal
properties on two cyanobacteria species (Microcystis sp. and Aphanizomenon sp.) and its toxicity on
non-targeted zooplankton species (Echinogammarus veneris sp.). The experiments were conducted
in an actual surface water matrix (Kouris Reservoir in Cyprus), spiked with pure cultures and PMS
doses of 1-5 mg/L (H2O2 equivalents). The loss of the photosynthetic activity of the cyanobacterial
cells and mobility of the Gammarus species was monitored for 48 hours. Treatment experiments
showed that both species required as low as 3 mg/L PMS, while toxicity studies on zooplankton
showed that species are more sensitive to multiple than single PMS doses which is opposite to liquid
H2O2. Experiments on the simultaneous degradation of cyanobacterial cells from Microcystis sp. and
microcystin-LR confirmed that PMS could degrade both the toxins and the cells at the same time,
while H2O2 could not. The structures of the transformation products of microcystin-LR during
treatment (up to 72 hours of contact time) were determined in dedicated experiments
EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF PEROXYMONOSULFATE (PMS) AS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TREATMENT FOR THE IN-SITU MITIGATION OF CYANOBACTERIA
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (CYANO-HABS)
M. G. Antoniou1,*, E. Keliri1, A. Zindrou2, Υ. Deligiannakis2,3, Ε. Passa4, Κ. Weitzel4, and D.
Dionysiou 4,†
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
2 Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University
of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
3 Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development, University Research Center of Ioannina,
Ioannina, Greece
4 Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental
Engineering (DChEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
(*maria.antoniou@cut.ac.cy)
ABSTRACT
Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is a known oxidizing agent used in water treatment (especially in the pool
and spa industry) as it can perform targeted oxidation for the removal of contaminants of emerging
concern and has disinfection properties. Moreover, PMS has been used in bench-scale studies for
the removal of cyanotoxins from drinking water [1], which are a group of naturally occurring toxins
produced from the toxic strains of cyanobacteria [2]. Despite that, there is limited information in the
literature regarding PMS’s application in mitigating toxic cyanobacteria in surface waters. Other
peroxide compounds such as H2O2 have been extensively used on cyanobacteria-contaminated sites
with varying efficiencies [3]. Though efficient, the requirement for high H2O2 doses to restore
contaminated sites can negatively affect non-targeted species of the aquatic ecosystem
(phytoplankton and zooplankton), which impose restrictions on H2O2 in-situ application in surface
waters. Thus herein, PMS was investigated as an alternative peroxide compound for its algicidal
properties on two cyanobacteria species (Microcystis sp. and Aphanizomenon sp.) and its toxicity on
non-targeted zooplankton species (Echinogammarus veneris sp.). The experiments were conducted
in an actual surface water matrix (Kouris Reservoir in Cyprus), spiked with pure cultures and PMS
doses of 1-5 mg/L (H2O2 equivalents). The loss of the photosynthetic activity of the cyanobacterial
cells and mobility of the Gammarus species was monitored for 48 hours. Treatment experiments
showed that both species required as low as 3 mg/L PMS, while toxicity studies on zooplankton
showed that species are more sensitive to multiple than single PMS doses which is opposite to liquid
H2O2. Experiments on the simultaneous degradation of cyanobacterial cells from Microcystis sp. and
microcystin-LR confirmed that PMS could degrade both the toxins and the cells at the same time,
while H2O2 could not. The structures of the transformation products of microcystin-LR during
treatment (up to 72 hours of contact time) were determined in dedicated experiments
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