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Effects of electrolysis by low-amperage electric current on the chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Microcystis aeruginosa

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Abstract

Effects of electrolysis by low-amperage electric current on the chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated in order to reveal the mechanisms of electrolytic inhibition of algae. Threshold of current density was found under a certain initial no. of algae cell. When current density was equal to or higher than the threshold (fixed electrolysis time), growth of algae was inhibited completely and the algae lost the ability to survive. Effect of algal solution volume on algal inhibition was insignificant. Thresholds of current density were 8, 10, 14, 20, and 22 mA cm−2 at 2.5 × 107, 5 × 107, 1 × 108, 2.5 × 108, and 5 × 108 cells mL−1 initial no. of algae cell, respectively. Correlativity between threshold of current and initial no. of algae cells was established for scale-up and determining operating conditions. Changes of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters demonstrated that photosystem (PS) II of algae was damaged by electrolysis but still maintained relatively high activity when algal solution was treated by current densities lower than the threshold. The activity of algae recovered completely after 6 days of cultivation. On the contrary, when current density was higher than the threshold, connection of phycobilisome (PBS) and PS II core complexes was destroyed, PS II system of algae was damaged irreversibly, and algae could not survive thoroughly. The inactivation of M. aeruginosa by electrolysis can be attributed to irreversible separation of PBS from PS II core complexes and the damage of PS II of M. aeruginosa.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51309019, 51379016), Ministry of Water Resource, Public Interest Scientific Research Fund (No. 201501019), Ministry of Science and Technology, Technology Research and Development Special Funds of Scientific Research Institute (Grant 2012EG136134). We thank Mr. Zhongxian Lv from Zealquest Scientific Technology Co., Ltd. for his help on the analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of M. aeruginosa. We also thank Dr. Ming Li from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University for his help on the revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basin Water Environmental Research, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430010, China

    Li Lin, Cong Feng, Qingyun Li, Min Wu & Liangyuan Zhao

  2. Key Laboratory of Water Resources in River Basins and Eco-Environmental Science of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430010, China

    Li Lin, Cong Feng, Qingyun Li, Min Wu & Liangyuan Zhao

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  1. Li Lin
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  2. Cong Feng
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  3. Qingyun Li
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  4. Min Wu
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  5. Liangyuan Zhao
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Correspondence to Li Lin.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Lin, L., Feng, C., Li, Q. et al. Effects of electrolysis by low-amperage electric current on the chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Microcystis aeruginosa . Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14932–14939 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4708-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4708-z

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