Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (9): 24-31.DOI: 10.11988/ckyyb.20220306

• Water Environment and Water Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Inhibiting the Growth of Microcystis aeruginosa by H2O2 Generated in the Electrolysis Process by Low-Amperage Electric Current

ZHANG Yu-ting1,2, LIN Li1,2, JIA Di1,2, DONG Lei1,2, PAN Xiong1,2, LIU Min1,2, ZHAO Liang-yuan1,2   

  1. 1. Basin Water Environment Department, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430010, China;
    2. Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basin Water Resources and Eco-environmental Sciences, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan 430010, China
  • Received:2022-03-27 Revised:2022-07-01 Online:2023-09-01 Published:2023-09-01

Abstract: Platinum titanium served as the anode, while a carbon black polytetrafluoroethylene (C/PTFE) gas diffusion electrode was utilized as the cathode in order to facilitate the production of H2O2 through low-amperage electrolysis, with the aim of inhibiting the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa. Through a series of experimental investigations involving varying electrolysis time, current density, and gas flow, the optimal conditions for inhibiting Microcystis aeruginosa were determined. Specifically, the optimal configuration involved the electrolysis of 100 mL of 5×105 cells/mL algae solution at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 and a gas flow rate of 0.4 L/min for a duration of 60 minutes. Following electrolysis, the optical density (OD680) of the algae cells decreased from 0.035 to 0.003, indicating the complete inhibition of algae cell growth. Additionally, the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, such as Fv/Fm, Y(Ⅱ), and Y(NO), demonstrated the substantial disruption to the photosynthetic mechanism of the algae, further indicating the complete decay of the algae population. The concentration of H2O2 generated during electrolysis was determined to be 79 mg/L. Furthermore, even after six cycles of reuse, the C/PTFE cathode maintained 66% (52 mg/L) of the initial H2O2 concentration, highlighting the excellent stability and promising application potential of the C/PTFE electrode. This study presents a novel approach to effectively inhibit cyanobacterial blooms through low-amperage electrolysis, offering a new avenue for remediation.

Key words: gas diffusion electrode, low-amperage electric current, hydrogen peroxide, microcystis aeruginosa, inhibiting effect

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