title: Utilizing the algicidal activity of aminoclay as a practical treatment for toxic red tides.
abstract: In recent decades, harmful algal blooms (HABs) - commonly known as red tides - have increasingly impacted human health, caused significant economic losses to fisheries and damaged coastal environments and ecosystems. Here, we demonstrate a method to control and suppress HABs through selective algal lysis. The approach harnesses the algicidal effects of aminoclays, which are comprised of a high density of primary amine groups covalently bonded by metal cation backbones. Positively charged colloidals of aminoclays induce cell lysis in HABs within several minutes exposure but have negligible impact on non-harmful phytoplankton, zooplankton and farmed fish. This selective lysis is due to the ammonium characteristics of the aminoclay and the electrostatic attraction between the clay nanoparticles and the algal cells. In contrast, yellow loess clay, a recognized treatment for HABs, causes algal flocs with little cell lysis. Thus, the aminoclay loading can be effective for the mitigation of HABs.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 program), KAIST, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young-Chul
authors: YC
authors: Lee
authors: EonSeon
authors: E
authors: Jin
authors: Seung Won
authors: SW
authors: Jung
authors: Yeon-Mi
authors: YM
authors: Kim
authors: Kwang Suk
authors: KS
authors: Chang
authors: Ji-Won
authors: JW
authors: Yang
authors: Si-Wouk
authors: SW
authors: Kim
authors: Young-Ok
authors: YO
authors: Kim
authors: Hyun-Jae
authors: HJ
authors: Shin
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D000077215:Clay; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom / Q000187:drug effects*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium; D000077215:Clay