Coflocculation of algae and clay to clarify turbid impoundments

Yoram Avnimelech; Ronald G. Menzel

ABSTRACT:

Two pairs of comparable turbid ponds were selected to test the practicality of algal-clay Coflocculation as a means of clarifying turbid ponds. One pond of each pair was fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus; the other was left as an unfertilized control. Algal growth was induced in both fertilized ponds, leading to a significant reduction of turbidity. The sedimentation of the algal-clay clusters removed clay, algae, and nutrients from the water column. The addition of fertilizer seems to be an efficient and economical means to clarify turbid ponds.

Footnotes

Yoram Avnimelech, formerly a visiting soil scientist, Agricultural Reseaich Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Oklahoma State University, is an associate professor. Agricultural Engineering, Technion, Israel, Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel. Ronald C. Menzel is a soil scientist and research leader. Water Quality and Watershed Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Durant, Oklahoma 74702. Journal paper no. 4313 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.
Copyright 1984 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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