Removal of Musty-Odorous Compounds in Water and Retained in Algal Cells through Water Purification Processes

Abstract

Musty-odorous compounds, metabolites of some species of blue-green algae, are usually contained in both the water and algal cell bodies. The compounds in the latter solid phase were found to be easily removed by coagulation and sedimentation without breakpoint prechlorination (intermediate chlorination used instead). Chlorination of the algae results in an artificial release of the metabolite content into the surrounding water. When a large fraction of the compounds was present in the algal cell bodies, more than 60% of these compounds were removed in the intermediate-chlorination treatment. Powdered activated carbon treatment is effective in removing the compounds in the aqueous phase. However, the effectivness was usually limited in practical treatment to high concentrations of musty odor. On the other hand, the ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment was found to be an effective method for removal. It was observed that the musty-odorous compounds were completely removed through the ozonation and GAC treatment system, which included coagulation and sedimentation without prechlorination.