Microbial Mitigation of Eutrophication
Overview
Investigated whether naturally sourced microorganisms could mitigate eutrophication and algal blooms driven by nitrogen / phosphorus runoff. Microbes sampled from Maeji Lake were isolated and co-cultured with algae to reduce key water-quality indicators and recover phosphorus.
Key points
- Isolated 8 microbial colonies on nutrient agar from lake samples; screened against algae and advanced the best strain to a 7-day co-culture (N, P, and combined CNP conditions).
- Monitored chlorophyll-a, TN, TP, TOC, CFU, pH, and temperature; Chl-a measured by acetone extraction and spectrophotometry.
- Under eutrophic CNP conditions the strain cut Chl-a 25–30%, TN/TP 50–80%, and TOC up to 85%.
- Phosphorus showed aerobic uptake then anaerobic release (Poly-P), enabling phosphorus recovery.
- Proposed an optimized treatment process tied to the national Total Maximum Daily Load policy.
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