Grantee Research Project Results
HAB early mitigation by magnetic photocatalysts
EPA Grant Number: SV840420Title: HAB early mitigation by magnetic photocatalysts
Investigators: Liu, Jia , Li, Ruopu , Yang, Ning , Goodson, Boyd , Khan, Nafeesa , Regmi, Sushmita , Yang, Haoran , Wu, Di , Kalinzi, Joseph , Wang, Minxiao , Senanayake, Ishani M
Institution: Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: II
Project Period: March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2025
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: 17th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2022) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards
Description:
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 in 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 surface water resources for recreational and drinking water purposes. Thus, mitigation strategies to combat HABs are critically important. However, current mitigation methods either add solid materials into sediments, or potentially bring other contaminants into lakes, or can only treat harmful algae (e.g., cyanobacteria) but not the toxins produced by these algae. Moreover, removal of nutrients (e.g., phosphorus, a possible reason 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 phosphorus. In addition, HABs in their early stages are detected and monitored by two different pathways molecular detection following auto-sampling, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), in order to control HABs before their outbreaks. The research focuses on the Campus Lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) and Carbondale Reservoir, which have been used for recreational purposes but have experienced HAB outbreaks. Lab-made γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials are used under solar light to mitigate HABs. Owing to its magnetic property, this material can be easily recycled, thus minimizes the solids introduced to the sediments. Based on the success of HAB monitoring and mitigation by γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials in bench scale in the Phase I project, the overall objective of the Phase II project is to expand early-stage HAB mitigation to a pilot scale.
Approach:
The overall strategy of the Phase II project is to achieve early mitigation of HABs in a pilot scale by understanding how water quality parameters may affect the treatment processes and leveraging preliminary results from the Phase I bench scale study. The specific strategies are as follows. 1) HABs will be monitored using an integrated process of drone monitoring and auto-sampling for lab analysis. Statistical Inversion Model will be developed to predict HABs by associating drone images with water quality lab results (e.g., qPCR test) of samples collected by the solar-powered auto-sampling station. 2) Lab tests will be conducted to understand the impact of influential factors on HAB mitigation, such as natural organic matter, bicarbonate & carbonate, pH, and temperature of lake water, for optimizing the efficiency of the technology. 3) A point-of-use (POU) system will be designed and manufactured, which comprises an innovative and integrative automated floating station (AFS) followed by a treatment floating station (TFS), both powered by solar light. 4) HAB early mitigation will be investigated in the Campus Lake of SIUC in a pilot scale using the designed POU system under solar light. The intelligent floating station will be designed to move to the sites impacted by harmful algae. The proper dosage and lifespan of γFe2O3/TiO2 nanomaterials in the photoreactor will be determined.
Findings of this study, the monitoring and mitigation results, will be disseminated to our partner the Greater Egypt for water quality management, to Illinois EPA and Harmful Algal Bloom Research groups through presentations and publications for potential technology transfer to mitigate HABs in other lakes. The PI and students will attend annual Mid-American Environmental Engineering Conference for disseminating the results to broader scientific communities. In addition, the mass media will inform the public of this project. These media include the Daily Egyptian (the SIUC campus newspaper), the Southern Illinoisan, and the WSIU Radio. Important project milestones and results will be delivered to end users, such as the Center for Environmental Health and Safety (CEHS), the Student Recreation Center (SRC), and Plant and Service Operations (PSO) at SIUC.
Expected Results:
Successful completion of the project will demonstrate the effectiveness of mitigating early-stage HABs and reducing cyanotoxins in freshwater by the magnetic photocatalysts � γFe2O3/TiO2, following an early monitoring strategy. The project will directly benefit SIUC communities and Carbondale citizens by mitigating HABs and improving lake water quality. Such an innovative method and its economic, environmental, and social benefits can also be extended to other lakes and communities impacted by HAB outbreaks.
Supplemental Keywords:
Blue-green algae, excessive algae growth, nanoparticle.P3 Phase I:
HAB Early Mitigation by Magnetic Photocatalysts | Final ReportThe 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.