Annual dynamics and origins of the odorous compounds in the pilot experimental area of Lake Dianchi, China

Abstract

Lake Dianchi is the sixth largest freshwater lake in China. The pilot experimental area (6 km2) in Lake Dianchi is one of the most severely polluted areas in the lake with heavy cyanobacteria blooms. During June 2002 to May 2003, the algal composition and number, and odorous compounds were identified monthly and monitored in the area. Meanwhile, physicochemical parameters such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (CODMn), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, transparency, temperature and chlorophyll a (chla) were determined. Four odorous compounds: 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin, β-cyclocitral and β-ionone were found in the lake water. Both the concentration of particulate β-cyclocitral and that of β-ionone correlated significantly with the annual variation of Chla, biomass of total phytoplankton, cyanobacteria and Microcystis. The concentration of particulate MIB correlated significantly with the biomass of Oscillatoria, while the concentration of particulate geosmin correlated significantly with the biomass of Anabaena. Off-flavour in the pilot area was found to be caused by a combination of β-cyclocitral- and β-ionone-producing Microcystis, MIB-producing Oscillatoria and geosmin-producing Anabaena. β-ionone, MIB and geosmin contributed collectively to the odour intensity in the lake water.