FAS Abstracts 2004 Meeting Page

Biological Sciences (BIO B): BIO-15

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Evaluation of attached algal films for removing phosphorus from agricultural runoff. M. KHARBANDA, S. JACKSON and T. DEBUSK.  DB Environmental, Inc., 365 Gus Hipp Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955. We performed a mesocosm assessment to quantify the ability of attached algal films (AF) to remove phosphorus (P) from agricultural runoff.  The periphytic algae were cultured in long (22 m), shallow (2 cm) raceways at a hydraulic loading rate of 43 cm/day, which provided a short (1.1 hour) hydraulic retention time. During the 10-month study, these highly loaded AF systems reduced total P concentrations from an average of 83 to 45µug/L. Algal productivity and tissue P levels declined with distance from the raceway inflow. These data demonstrate that algal films can grow rapidly and effectively reduce aqueous P concentrations, even when cultured under a short HRT at relatively low inflow P concentrations.