The use of oyster shell powders for water quality improvement of lakes by algal blooms removal

Abstract

In this year, Koreans have a shortage in agricultural and drinking water due to severe algal blooms generated in major lakes. Waste oyster shells were obtained from temporary storage near the workplace at which oysters were separated from their shells. Heating (1000oC for 1 h in air) was employed to convert raw oyster shell powders into calcium oxide powders that reacted efficiently with phosphorus and nitrogen to remove algal blooms from eutrophicated wastewater. As the dispersed amount of heated oyster shell powders was increased, water clarity and visual light penetration were improved. Coagulation, precipitation and carbonation process of the heated oyster shell powders in a water purifier facilitated removal of eutrophication nutrient such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which is both beneficial and economically viable. CO2 implantation by carbonation treatment not only produced thermodynamically stable CaO in oyster shells to derive precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) but also accelerated algal removal by activation of coagulation and precipitation process. The use of oyster shell powders led to a mean reduction of 97% in total phosphate (T-P), a mean reduction of 91% in total nitrogen (T-N) and a maximum reduction of 51% in chemical oxygen demand (COD), compared with the total pollutant load of raw algal solution. Remarkable water quality improvement of algal removal by heated oyster shell powders and PCC carbonation treatment will allow utilization as water resources to agricultural or industrial use.