Experience in using chitosan to reduce river navigation risks

This study investigates chitosan application as a biosorption material to mitigate cyanobacterial blooms in water bodies, using the Nagatinskiy backwater of the Moskva River as a case study. The research addresses the critical environmental issue of aquatic eutrophication caused by excessive cyanobacterial proliferation, which degrades water quality and poses risks to waterway navigation. Algal blooms form flocculent and film-like accumulations on water surfaces, creating hazardous conditions for vessels by causing blockages and damage to ship mechanisms while complicating navigation and maneuvering. The proposed technology employs submerged chitosan modules manufactured from polymeric chitosan with high deacetylation degree (85%) to sorb phosphate ions, the primary nutrient source for cyanobacteria. Laboratory experiments demonstrate phosphate ion sorption efficiency of 73–87% at concentrations up to 500 μg/L, while field trials show a 57.9% reduction in phycocyanin pigment content, indicating significant cyanobacterial growth suppression. Toxicity assessment of spent modules reveals no adverse environmental effects, supporting this technology as an ecologically safe method for controlling algal blooms with potential secondary use of chitosan as fertilizer.

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