Assessing the toxic effects of magnetic particles used for lake restoration on phytoplankton: A community-based approach.

Inactivation by adding different phosphorus (P) adsorbents is one of the most frequently used methods for combating inland water eutrophication. The aim of this work was to assess the toxic effects of novel P adsorbents (magnetic particles, MPs) on the phytoplankton community. An outdoor microcosm experiment, containing lake water and surface sediment from a hypertrophic Mediterranean lake, was carried out following a factorial design (n = 5) with three different treatments: control (C), where no MPs were added; Treatment-Water (T-W) and Treatment-Sediment (T-S).

Evaluation of dried amorphous ferric hydroxide CFH-12® as agent for binding bioavailable phosphorus in lake sediments.

Metal hydroxides formed from aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) salts can be used as phosphorus (P) adsorbents in lake restoration, but the application entails problems in low-alkaline lakes due to acid producing hydrolysis and potential formation of toxic metal ions. Therefore, we tested the potential of applying CFH-12® (Kemira) - a dried, amorphous Fe-oxide with no pH effect - in lake restoration. Since Fe may become reduced in lake sediments and release both Fe and any associated P we also evaluated the redox sensitivity of CFH-12® in comparison with freshly formed Fe(OH).