Abstract
Algae (green, blue-green, and diatom) grown in inorganic media produced particulate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). DOC produced by a green-alga contains 25% hydrophobic acids. DOC from all algae had specific ultraviolet absorbance values less than 2.0m-1 (mg/L)-1. Algae-produced DOC was biologically labile; greater than 60% degraded in bioreactors within 5 days. The biodegradable material likely included carbohydrates, amino acids, and amino sugars, which were present in hydrophobic acid isolates. Chlorination of algal DOC formed disinfection by-products; DOC from the green alga, Scenedesmus quadricauda, produced chloroform [0.53 micromole per mg carbon (μmol/mg C)], dichloroacetic acid (0.27 μmol/mg C), and trichloroacetic acid (0.14 μmol/mg C. This work complements other studies, which focused on algal total organic carbon (DOC and cellular material), and clearly demonstrates the importance of identifying algae-derived sources of DOC in water supplies and removing such DOC in water treatment plants prior to chlorination. Journal of Environmental Engineering
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1574-1582 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Environmental Engineering |
| Volume | 131 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2005 |
Keywords
- Algae
- Disinfection
- Dissolved organic carbon
- Organic matter
- Water quality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Science(all)