Assessment of Cyanotoxins Removal Efficiency Using a Simulated Drinking Water Treatment Process for Downstream Source Water of the Nakdong River

Objectives : This study aims to evaluate the removal rates of nine cyanotoxins produced by cyanobacteria using a laboratory-scale simulated drinking water treatment process (DWTP), providing useful data for DWTP operations during algal blooms.Methods : A lab-scale simulated DWTP was used to evaluate the removal rates of nine cyanotoxins under typical operating conditions, including specific chemical dosages and contact times. The study employed chlorine and ozone, as well as powdered activated carbon (PAC) and biological activated carbon (BAC).Results and Discussion : According to the experimental results of removal efficiency for chlorination and ozonation, microcystin-LR (MC-LR), MC-RR, MC-LA, MC-LF, MC-LY, MC-YR, cylindrospermopsin (CYN), and nodularin (NOD) were effectively removed within the typical ranges of pre- and post-chlorine and pre- and post-ozone concentrations in the DWTP. However, anatoxin-a (ANA) exhibited a significantly lower removal efficiency. The evaluation of removal efficiency for PAC treatment indicated that MC-LA, MC-LF, and MC-LY had low removal rates. In contrast, the other six cyanotoxins achieved over 50% removal when PAC concentrations were above 25 mg/L and contact times exceeded 30 minutes. The evaluation of removal rate for BAC treatment showed that under conditions with an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of more than 5 minutes, over 70% of the nine cyanotoxins were removed. When the EBCT exceeded 2 minutes, removal rates reached between 95% and 100%. In the BAC process, the removal of MC-RR was primarily facilitated by the biodegradation, while the removal of CYN was mainly achieved through adsorption.Conclusion : Due to climate change, the bloom periods of various cyanobacteria in domestic water sources are gradually increasing, resulting in a rising trend in both the frequency and concentration of detected cyanotoxins. This study evaluated the removal efficiency of various cyanotoxins in DWTPs, focusing on chlorine/ozone treatment (oxidation), PAC treatment (adsorption), and BAC (adsorption and biodegradation). The different DWTPs at the facility act as multiple barriers, effectively removing cyanotoxins upon their introduction.