Effects of electron beam irradiation on proteins and exopolysaccharide production and changes in Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract

Purpose: Microcystis aeruginosa often threaten human health and safety for the toxin and unpleasant odor and removal difficulties during water treatment process. In order to remove it, a novel method high energy was studied in this research.

Materials and methods: The electron beam generated by an accelerator was applied to irradiate M. aeruginosa at various doses of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 kGy. The effects of irradiation on M. aeruginosa characteristics and mechanism have been researched through surveying the changes in pH and conductivity, changes of algae cell community structure and respiration rate, and changes of protein and exopolysaccharides production were also detected.

Result: The data showed that exposure to 2–5 kGy radiation could make pH decrease. Microcystis aeruginosa increased through its own photosynthesis and physiological regulation. The increasing damage to algal cells led to the exosmosis of the contents, which increased the electrical conductivity of algae liquid and decreased the area of algae cells colony. 2–5 kGy irradiation decreased protein content and destroy the antioxidant system and thus reduced the secretion of extracellular polysaccharides

Conclusions: 2–5 kGy radiation could control the algae growth and produced obvious effect. The respiration rate decreased obviously that made M. aeruginosa lose activity in a short time. The results proved that irradiation could change the algae growth and affect its life characteristic efficiently in a short time.

Keywords:

• Electron beam irradiation
• protein
• polysaccharide
• respiration

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment [ESK201910] and 2019 Jiading District (Shanghai) Agricultural Science Research Project.

Notes on contributors

Shuyu Liu

Shuyu Liu, Associate Professor, Working on Environment and Biological science, School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China.

Yan Tan

Yan Tan, Master graduate, Environment and Biological science, Working in School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China.

Fang Ma

Fang Ma, Professor, Working on Environment Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin, China.

Hanzhuo Fu

Hanzhuo Fu, a Researcher of Environment Chemistry, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA.

Ying Zhang

Ying Zhang, Professor, Working on Environment Engineering, College of Resources and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China.