The impact of zeta potential changes on Ceratium hirundinella cell removal and the ability of cells to restore its natural surface charge during drinking water purification

Abstract

Unit processes of a conventional water purification facility are designed to remove suspended material from source water (both inorganic and organic impurities). Organic substances in source water include phytoplankton species (algae and cyanobacteria) that are generally negatively charged on the surface of the cells. The zeta potential (ZP) of algal cells needs to be destabilized in order to enhance removal thereof during water purification. The aims of this study were to investigate the ZP changes of Ceratium hirundinella (C. hirundinella) cells and the ability of cells to restore their natural ZP during the water purification process. C. hirundinella cells (>500 cells per mL) were collected from the Middle Lake in respectively. However, after extended settling times (120-240 minutes), more metabolically active cells were observed in the supernatant of samples containing higher cell concentrations. The findings showed that the ZP of C. hirundinella cells changes as a result of adding coagulants to form flocs, but may be restored when water purification facilities employ poor optimization practices and allow extended settling periods or retention times.

Freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata undergoes metabolomic changes in response to electrostatic adhesion by micrometer-sized nylon 6 particles

“…PA (nylon 6, 6) is known to be positively charged, whereas typical plastic materials such as PE and PS tend to be negatively charged in triboelectric series (Liu et al 2015 ; Kim et al 2017 ). Algal cells are also known to be negatively charged (Ewerts et al 2017 ). It has been demonstrated that positively charged PS particles (20–50 nm) have a higher binding affinity toward algal cells, which produces a greater effect on the cells than negatively charged PS particles (Bergami et al 2017 ; Nolte et al 2017 ; Bhattacharya et al 2010 ).…”

Electromagnetic Field Impacts on Phytoplankton and Zooplankton Abundance, Relative Abundance and Community Compositions in In-Situ Microcosms

“…The differing surface charges and zeta potentials of green algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms may have been a factor in their responses to the EMF treatment. The surface charge among green algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms differs in their composition although they are all negatively charged (Ewerts et al 2017). Zeta-potential is indicated by a particles surface charge and in this context is the measurement of the electrostatic potential at an organism's surface membrane with the surrounding solution (Clogston and Patri, 2011;Vogel et al 2017).…”

Freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata undergoes metabolomic changes in response to electrostatic adhesion by micrometer-sized nylon 6 particles

“…PA (nylon 6, 6) is known to be positively charged, whereas typical plastic materials such as PE and PS tend to be negatively charged in triboelectric series (Liu et al 2015;Kim et al 2017). Algal cells are also known to be negatively charged (Ewerts et al 2017). It has been demonstrated that positively charged PS particles (20-50 nm) have a higher binding a nity toward algal cells, which produces a greater effect on the cells than negatively charged PS particles (Bergami et al 2017;Nolte et al 2017;Bhattacharya et al 2010).…”