en.Wedoany.com Reported - Research led by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) at Ohio State University shows that nanobubble ozone technology can reduce harmful blue-green algae by up to 99% and cyanotoxins by 92%.

Scientists tested the nanobubble ozone technology (NBOT) at Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie, using specialized research facilities to assess its ability to reduce toxin-producing blue-green algae and its impact on the lake environment.

Using Ohio State University's mesocosm facility, which simulates lake conditions in a controlled real-world environment, the research team found in repeated trials that NBOT reduced blue-green algae by 99% and cyanotoxins by 92%.

Compared to copper or hydrogen peroxide algaecides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this treatment caused less disruption to other aquatic organisms. Researchers observed an increase in beneficial algae after treatment, a signal that the method may help support a healthier aquatic ecosystem.

Heather Raymond, director of the CFAES Water Quality Initiative, stated that the primary goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nanobubble ozone technology in eradicating harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins, and to explore the technology's impact on non-target organisms and its potential to transform nutrients.

Toxin-producing harmful algal blooms are driven by excess nutrients in water. While prevention remains critical, reducing nutrients to achieve measurable improvements takes decades. This project explored whether treatment technologies could provide water managers with faster tools to mitigate the impacts of algal toxins. NBOT works by generating ozone, a strong oxidant, and delivering it into water through tiny nanobubbles.

Raymond noted that unlike common macrobubbles, which may quickly coalesce, nanobubbles do not rapidly rise to the surface and "burst." Due to their extremely small size, nanobubbles move quickly through water, helping ozone break down harmful algae and toxins more efficiently.

"Overall, nanobubble ozone technology is proving to be an environmentally friendly and effective alternative treatment for harmful algal blooms," Raymond said. The study also indicated that water conditions affect treatment efficacy, with dissolved organic carbon content in water being a key factor. This finding helps estimate the amount of ozone required for effective treatment and guides future applications of the technology.

Although the technology has shown effectiveness in laboratory and mesocosm environments, researchers are still studying how changes in water quality conditions and larger treatment areas affect performance. As a next step, Ohio State University is collaborating with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to test the technology next summer in multiple fish hatchery ponds with a capacity of 1.3 million gallons each. Researchers also hope to partner with public water systems in future trials to better understand the technology's performance at larger operational scales.

"Harmful algal blooms affect recreation, drinking water, aquaculture, and local economies," Raymond said. "Our applied research on harmful algal bloom treatment technologies will help water managers find effective solutions to improve water quality and protect public health."