Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: HAB Early Mitigation by Magnetic Photocatalysts
EPA Grant Number: SU840174Title: HAB Early Mitigation by Magnetic Photocatalysts
Investigators: Liu, Jia , Goodson, Boyd , Xia, Chunjie , Li, Ruopu , Chen, Kang , Adhikari, Pratima , Baral, Sudip , Senanayake, Ishani M , Pugh, Margaret D , Prado, Luis , Alshammari, Bader A , Xia, Yuxuan , Khan, Nafeesa , Regmi, Sushmita , Wu, Di , O’Brien, Emily , Lanier, Elle E
Institution: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021
Project Amount: $24,991
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly a global concern and a major environmental problem in all 50 states in the U.S. It adversely affects water quality of both freshwaters and coastal waters, and poses negative health and economic impacts. The HABs are often associated with high concentrations of cyanobacteria, which can produce cyanotoxins that are harmful to humans, pets, fish, birds, and other wildlife. In particular, HABs seriously affect the resilience of our communities from using the surface water resources for recreational and drinking water purposes. Thus strategies to mitigate HABs are critically important. However, current mitigation methods either add solid materials into sediments, or potentially bring other contaminants, or can only treat organisms (e.g., cyanobacteria), but not the toxins produced by these bacteria (especially with the fact that the toxins will be released into the water after death and lysis of the bacteria), and removal of nutrients (e.g., phosphate) - possible reasons for HABs - is large omitted. Here we create a ‘smart’ strategy to mitigate HABs in their early-stages by not only reducing the amount of
cyanobacteria, but also degrading the cyanotoxins, and removing the nutrient phosphate; in addition, HABs in their early stages are monitored by two different pathways – molecular detection following auto-sampling, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), in order to effectively control HABs before HAB outbreaks. The research focuses on the Campus Lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC, Carbondale, IL) and Carbondale Reservoir - used for hiking and natural trip purposes (the latter is also used as a backup water supply), but have experienced HAB outbreaks. Toxic cyanobacteria species, e.g., Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, their toxins, e.g., microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, as well as orthophosphate concentrations are monitored. Lab-made γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials are used as biocides, photocatalysts, and adsorbent. The material is superior also in its easy recycle by the magnetic property, thus minimizes the introduction of extra solids to the sediments after their exposure in surface waters.
The overall goal of this project is to investigate early detection and mitigation of HABs by γFe2O3/TiO2 magnetic photocatalysts, in order to increase community resilience and protect human health in communities facing frequent HABs. We noticed most of these communities are in rural areas, where the biggest source of nutrient pollution in waterways comes from agricultural activities. The Phase I bench-scale study leads to design of a novel intelligent system in pilot scale study in Phase II to treat HABs in the Campus Lake of SIUC. The research relates to EPA’s authorizing statutes of the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Communities impacted by HAB outbreaks would benefit from the project by increasing their resilience to these events. The specific objectives are:
1) To detect HABs in early stages to potentially inform the Campus Lake and Carbondale Reservoir management departments and the public.
2) To inactivate cyanobacteria in cultural media, degrade cyanotoxin in deionized water, and adsorb phosphates in deionized water, respectively, by the magnetic nanomaterials under solar light.
3) To mitigate harmful algae, degrade cyanotoxins, and adsorb phosphates in lake water samples by the magnetic photocatalysts.
4) To separate the magnetic photocatalysts from the finished water using its magnetic
property.
The project broadens participation by involving students with diverse background from environmental engineering, to geography, to mechanical engineering, to chemistry in research. The project provides research opportunities to undergraduate students through a variety of programs, such as SIUC’s Research Enriched Academic Challenge (REACH) Program, and the University Honor’s Program. Educational resources developed from this project will be available to graduate and undergraduate students in the PI’s classes, also to high school students participating in Saluki H.S. Water Workshop hosted annually by SIUC.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Currently, the Campus Lake at SIUC and Carbondale Reservoir are monitored on a monthly basis, using both qPCR method and the drone starting from March 2021. γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials synthesized in the lab was for the first time used for harmful algae mitigation with water samples collected from the Campus Lake at SIUC; microcystin/nodularin-, cylindrospermopsin-, and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria species were targeted for analyses.
The following results were obtained from our investigation so far
.• Three sampling sites were selected for each lake, and permanent markers were labeled on each lake. Students from CEIE and EES worked in collaboration to monitor the water quality at the same day by taking lake water samples for lab analysis and capturing the lake water images using drone.
• From the water quality monitoring data (March to April, 2021), the highest levels of total phosphorous in SIUC campus lake and Carbondale Reservoir were measured as about 70.9 µg/L and 98.0 µg/L, respectively, which are within the range (30 -100 µg/L) of total phosphorous in eutrophic lakes. During water sampling, traditional risk assessment method chlorophyll a (Chl a) of the water samples was also used, and Chl a was detected in both lakes in Spring 2021.
• All the targeting toxin-producing cyanobacteria were found and quantified in the campus lake water by qPCR method. In Carbondale Reservoir, both microcystin/nodularin- and saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria species were detected.
• Relationship of the concentrations of Chl a with toxic cyanobacteria was also characterized.
• After 1 h interaction under simulated solar light using 100 mg/L of nanoparticles in simulated water samples, 2-log inactivation of microcystin producing bacteria was achieved; 68.7% microcystin was removed from water containing 200 µg/L microcystin; 43.2% phosphorus was removed from water sample containing 250 µg/L phosphorus.
• After 1 h interaction of the nanoparticles with the lake water samples, it was found that the nanoparticles can effectively inactivate toxic cyanobacteria from the lake water both in dark and under visible light conditions, and better inactivation efficiency was achieved under visible light.
• In lake waters, successful completion of the Phase I project can demonstrate the cost effectiveness to mitigate HABs in early-stage by the magnetic photocatalysts –γFe2O3/TiO2.
• Successful early monitoring strategy can also be demonstrated in the completion of the Phase I project.
Conclusions:
In our Phase I study, the following conclusions are advanced: 1) qPCR method can be used for targeting toxic cyanobacteria, but Chl a alone cannot be used to predict HABs. 2) Lab made γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials can be used to inactivate toxic cyanobacteria species, degrade cyanotoxin, and adsorb phosphorus. 3) Better inactivation efficiency under visible light indicated possible application of the technology under sunlight for HAB mitigation from surface water. In sum, an innovative nanomaterial γFe2O3/TiO2 was produced in this study that can be used to mitigate harmful algae in surface water to protect public health and surface water resources for recreational activities and drinking water purposes. The mitigation strategy will be fully developed in Phase II of the study for HAB early mitigation in pilot scale.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 2 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Chunjie Xia, Jia Liu (2020). Degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid by zero-valent iron nanoparticles under ultraviolet light. Journal of Nanoparticle Research. 22:188 |
SU840174 (Final) SU839460 (Final) SV840022 (2021) |
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Campobasso M, Peiravi M, Xia C, Liang Y, Liu J. Effects of combined Ag and ZnO nanoparticles on microbial communities from Crab Orchard Creek, Illinois, USA. Journal of Environmental Engineering 2020;146(7):04020067.. |
SU840174 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
CyanoHABs, nanocomposite, nutrient pollution, antimicrobialRelevant Websites:
SIU News Exit , KFVS News Exit , AgriNews Exit , SIU Jai Liu Exit
P3 Phase II:
HAB early mitigation by magnetic photocatalystsThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.