We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Influence of Dominant Phytoplankton Species on Disinfection By-Product Formation During Active-Substance Ballast Water Treatment: Skeletonema costatum vs. Akashiwo sanguinea
Summary
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that the species of dominant phytoplankton in seawater significantly shapes the type and quantity of toxic disinfection by-products formed during ballast water treatment, with dinoflagellate-dominated water producing a more complex and hazardous profile including nitrogen-containing by-products. These findings are relevant to microplastic research because both plastic debris and disinfection by-products accumulate in marine environments, and phytoplankton community shifts driven by plastic pollution could alter water treatment risks.
Active substance-based Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) can generate disinfection by-products (DBPs) by reacting with dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, current IMO G9-based assessments often overlook qualitative DOM variations. This study investigated DBP formation following NaDCC treatment in natural seawater dominated by the diatom Skeletonema costatum and the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea. Laboratory-cultured DOM was also analyzed using ATR-FT-IR, PCA, and 2D-COS to evaluate structural differences. In field experiments, S. costatum treatment primarily produced brominated trihalomethanes (THMs) and specific haloacetic acids (HAAs) with a limited composition. Conversely, A. sanguinea treatment yielded a diverse range of DBPs, including nitrogenous DBPs (HANs). FT-IR results, supported by 2D-COS, revealed that A. sanguinea-derived DOM underwent non-monotonic structural changes and distinct sequential functional group reactions, suggesting multiple, time-delayed precursor interactions. These findings demonstrate that phytoplankton species-specific DOM composition significantly dictates DBP profiles and temporal dynamics. Therefore, environmental risk assessments for BWMS must incorporate the qualitative characteristics of biogenic DOM and dominant species traits, particularly during coastal bloom events, to ensure more accurate management strategies.