Prediction of varying microcystins during non-thermal plasma oxidation of harvested microalgal biomass

By capturing intracellular microcystins (MCs) release from microalgal cell destruction and extracellular MCs oxidation, this study suggests a mathematical model explaining the simultaneous removal of microalgae and their toxins (MC-LR, -RR, and -YR) in non-thermal plasma (NTP) application. Although the suggested model was built based on simplified kinetic assumptions, it can reasonably predict the behavior of extracellular MCs in a harvested/concentrated slurry of microalgae taken from a blooming site. After 24 h of NTP treatment, the experimental reduction of extracellular MCs was recorded up to ∼77 %. Regressions based on the experimental data reveal the degradation rate (8.60 d⁻¹) and release rate (0.37 d⁻¹) of MCs, which provides the essential physicochemical information about intracellular MCs release by microalgal cell destruction. Simulation results help to develop safe and useful control over the simultaneous treatment of harvested microalgal biomass and toxins. This study further demonstrates that the suggested model contributes to predicting the variation of MCs in mass management of microalgal biomass for sustainable utilization.