Abstract

ROSALES, R.J; CAYETANO ARTEAGA, M.C  and  CIVES, H.R. Action of chlorine and activated carbon powder on the remotion of microcystin in drinking water. Cienc. docencia tecnol. [online]. 2012, n.44, pp. 221-237. ISSN 1851-1716.

The blooms of blue-green algae in Salto Grande Lake (Argentina-Uruguay) are a consequence of eutrophication state and environmental conditions. They represent an ecological, sanitary and economic problem affecting tourism, increasing costs to produce potable water and, the most important, public health risks from exposure to products of their metabolism: the cyanotoxins. Microcystins are the most dangerous to human health for its level and toxicity; its presence was detected in all of recorded blooms in the lake. We studied the action of chlorine and powdered activated carbon for removal of microcystin in the laboratory, demonstrating the greater effectiveness on the removal of microcystin of the oxidation treatment with chlorine over adsorption on activated carbon powder.

Keywords : Sanitary engineering; Drinking water; Chlorine; Microcystin; Activated carbon.