Chlorination for degrading saxitoxins (paralytic shellfish poisons) in water

Chlorination was investigated as a treatment option for degrading and thus removing saxitoxins (paralytic shellfish poisons, PSPs) produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) from water. It was found to be effective with the order of ease of degradation of the saxitoxins being GTX5 (B1) approximate...

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Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:Environmental technology. - 1993. - 24(2003), 11 vom: 01. Nov., Seite 1341-8
Auteur principal: Nicholson, B C (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Shaw, G R, Morrall, J, Senogles, P J, Woods, T A, Papageorgiou, J, Kapralos, C, Wickramasinghe, W, Davis, B C, Eaglesham, G K, Moore, M R
Format: Article
Langue:English
Publié: 2003
Accès à la collection:Environmental technology
Sujets:Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Saxitoxin 35523-89-8 Chlorine 4R7X1O2820
Description
Résumé:Chlorination was investigated as a treatment option for degrading and thus removing saxitoxins (paralytic shellfish poisons, PSPs) produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) from water. It was found to be effective with the order of ease of degradation of the saxitoxins being GTX5 (B1) approximately dcSTX > STX > GTX3 approximately C2 > C1 > GTX2. However the effectiveness of chlorine was pH dependent. Degradation as a function of pH was not linear with the degree of degradation increasing rapidly at around pH 7.5. At pH 9 > 90% removal was possible provided a residual of 0.5 mg l(-1) free chlorine was present after 30 min contact time. The more effective degradation at higher pH was unexpected as chlorine is known to be a weaker oxidant under these conditions. The more effective degradation, then, must be due to the toxins, which are ionisable molecules, being present in a form at higher pH which is more susceptible to oxidation. The feasibility of using chlorine to remove saxitoxins during water treatment will therefore depend strongly on the pH of the water being chlorinated. Degradation may be improved by pH adjustment but may not be a practical solution. Although saxitoxins were degraded in that the parent compounds were not detected by chemical analysis, there is no indication as to the nature of the degradation products. However, acute toxicity as determined by the mouse bioassay was eliminated
Description:Date Completed 29.04.2004
Date Revised 21.11.2013
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1479-487X