The effect of phosphorus binding clay (Phoslock) in mitigating cyanobacterial nuisance: A laboratory study on the effects on water quality variables and plankton

This laboratory study examined the lanthanum modified clay Phoslock® for its effectiveness to bind soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), release of nutrients from this modified clay, its influence on water quality variables (pH, oxygen saturation %, conductivity and turbidity), effects on phytoplankton growth (green alga Scenedesmus obliquus, cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena sp.), and, lastly, its effect on the population growth of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. A clear dose–response for SRP binding by the modified clay was observed. A small amount of ammonium is released from Phoslock®. We found no effect of Phoslock® on pH or oxygen saturation. Conductivity increased with the increasing concentration of Phoslock®. An application of Phoslock® caused a transient increase of turbidity up to 211 NTU. However, due to rapid settlement, turbidity fell below 13 NTU (~1 m Secchi depth), after 6 h. Phoslock® addition caused a reduction in growth of all phytoplankton species tested that we attribute to the combined effects of light limitation, flocculation with the bentonite and binding of SRP to Phoslock®. We estimated the EC50 of Phoslock® on the population growth of rotifer B. calyciflorus to be 0.15 g Phoslock® l-1. Overall, the results of our study indicate Phoslock® seems to be suitable for field applications.