Hydrogen peroxide as a selective inactivator of cyanobacteria has been reported by the University of Amsterdam (UvA, Matthijs et al. 2012 ). In cooperation with UvA, Arcadis has developed a method for a full scale application of hydrogen peroxide and tested this concept on several algae impacted ponds and lakes in The Netherlands. In this presentation we will demonstrate how we applied the ‘peroxide method’ at 10 different sites and explain how we achieved the target concentration of hydrogen peroxide across the water column. Application of hydrogen peroxide at a homogenous and dilute concentration is key to inactivate the cyanobacteria, while preventing negative side effects on phytoplankton and other organisms. The method has been applied on (city) ponds, recreational reservoirs, and a basin within a water treatment plant. We will discuss technical and performance challenges, limitations, results and lessons learned over the past years. Further we will briefly present regulatory aspects associated with application of hydrogen peroxide in the EU. Hydrogen peroxide is classified as a biocidal product regulated by the EU under the Biocidal Products Directive. Ongoing research associated with broader use of hydrogen peroxide as a cyanobacteria control strategy will also be discussed.

1. THE ‘HYDROGEN PEROXIDE METHOD’
From lab scale to full scale, new developments
and perspectives
U.S. Algal Toxin Conference 2016, Akron Ohio
Geert Wijn
Arcadis NL
May 11 2016

2. © Arcadis 2016
Content
 Introduction
 The Achilles heel of Cyanobacteria: Hydrogen
peroxide?
 Scaling up: From lab to full scale
 Research Projects 2009 – 2015
 How did we do it?
 Regulatory aspects
 The Future: Extend and improve our method

3. © Arcadis 2016
IN-SITU SOIL
REMEDIATION
IN-SITU TREATMENT
SYSTEMS
BLUE ALGAE
TREATMENT
GEERT WIJN
Senior specialist
Summary
 22 years environmental contracting business
 5 yrs BioSoil, Biological Soil remediation
 7 yrs A&G Environmental Technology
 10 yrs Arcadis InSitu, Soil and ground water remediation
 Arcadis Consultant and contractor(!)
 Sector Europe North
 Business Line Environment
 Value Proposition Environmental Construction Services
 7 years in water business with Blue algae treatment

4. © Arcadis 2016
HANS MATTHIJS
PETRA VISSER
JEF HUISMAN
Team University of Amsterdam

5. © Arcadis 2016
In Memoriam Hans Matthijs (1951 - 2016)

6. The Achilles heel of
Cyanobacteria?

7. © Arcadis 2016
Selective killing of
cyanobacteria
Drabkova, Matthijs, Admiraal and Marsalek, 2007
Research by University of Amsterdam
Cyanobacteria appeared 5-10 times more sensitive to H2O2
than green algae

8. © Arcadis 2016
 HP breaks down in 1-2 days (2H2O22H20 + O2)
 Microcystins break down in 1-2 days (!)
 Cyanobacteria are a lot more sensitive for HP (Drabkova et al., 2007)
 Selective killing of cyanobacteria, other phytoplankton are hardly
affected. Cyanobacteria appeared 5-10 times more sensitive to H2O2
than green algae in lab tests.
 Effective in very low concentration: equal to a 3% solution (used for
mouth rinsing) diluted 15.000x
 Effects on fish and aquatic plants haven’t been expected: treatment
with a 15 fold higher concentration is a common method in aquaria
Fast, selective and environmentally safe!
A chemical in open water?

9. © Arcadis 2016
Toxic algae blooms are an increasing problem in the
Dutch surface water. Various organizations are
interested in our method. In general, organizations who
are responsible for water quality, but for different
reasons:
 Recreational entrepreneurs
 Drinking water industry
 Water managers
 Municipalities
 Food Industry
Increasing problem

10. From lab tests to field study

11. © Arcadis 2016
Proof of Principle
Surface area 12 ha
Phosphate
concentration 0.1
mg P/L
Since 2007:
Planktothrix
agardhii
dominated
Lake was often
closed for
recreation
Lake Koetshuis, Veendam

12. © Arcadis 2016
Method
 8 enclosures
 0, 2, 4, 6 mg/l (duplicate)
Results
 2 mg/l is sufficient!
 Matthijs et al., 2012.
Step 1: Enclosures

13. © Arcadis 2016
Step 2: Whole lake
 Strong decrease of
cyanobacteria
 Microcystins rapidly
degraded
 Remedy lasts for
several weeks

14. Research projects 2009 – 2015

15. © Arcadis 2016
Site Year Surface (ha) volume (m3) Type of Water Cyanobacteria
Lake Koetshuis 2009 12,0 240.000 swimming lake Planktothrix, Woronichinia
Lake Koetshuis 2010 12,0 240.000 swimming lake Planktothrix, Woronichinia
Born 2009 0,2 3.000 city pond Microcystis
Lake Veer 2009 10,0 450.000 swimming lake Planktothrix
Lake Kotermeerstal 2011 16,0 1.920.000 swimming lake Aphanizomenon, Anabaena
Ouwerkerk 2012 8,5 456.800 Creeks, canal, pond
dinoflagellate Alexandrium
ostenfeldii
Troelstraweg 2015 0,6 12.850 city pond Woronichinia
Lake Krabbe 2015 3,0 52.500 swimming lake Aphanizomenon
Lake Delftse Hout 2015 23,5 705.000 swimming lake Anabeana
Reservoir
‘De Grote Rug’
2015 60,0 3.300.000
drinking water
basin
Microcytis
Research projects 2009 - 2015

16. © Arcadis 2016
Alexandrium (D)
-99,9%
Mussels saved
Pla/Wor
-99,9%
7 weeks
Aphanizomenon
-95%
Season
Ana/Aph
-99,7%/-97,3%
6 weeks
Microcystis
-95%
Full Intake
Microcystis
-98%
>4 weeks
Wor/Pla/Mic/Ana
-92%
2 days!
Aphanothece/Wor
-95%/-33%
8 weeks=Season
Pla
-99,8%
Season
Swimming water
City pond
Drinking water
Food production

17. © Arcadis 2016
 Treatment time 1 – 2 days
 HP disappeared within 2 days
 Toxins are not always produced/present by toxic algae
 No effects on higher biota (including macrofauna)
observed at low H2O2 concentrations
 Temporarily effects on zooplankton measured (diversity &
motility) – population recovered within 8 days
 Population of cyanobacteria suppressed for at least 6
weeks, up to a whole summer season (regarding
Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Planktothrix & Microcystis)
 Results and effect strongly depends on site specific
conditions
In general

18. How did we do it?

19. © Arcadis 2016
 Boat from local fire
brigade
 Custom made pump
and dosing system
’water harrow’ installed
on site
 Fixed depth at 2 m,
width approx. 5 m
 Equal distribution in full
water column
 HP Storage in cubic
container
 GPS system onboard
 For max. 20 ha
 Low speed
Prototype 2009 - 2011

20. © Arcadis 2016
 Large HP stock and
dosing unit on board
and tow boat
 Adaptable harrow in
depth (6 m) and width
(6 m)
 GPS
 Low speed, large
volumes
 Small lakes
 Used for Alexandrium
ostenfeldii treatment
Pontoon
Successful saving of mussel production threatened with
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning due to Saxitoxines

21. © Arcadis 2016
 Aluminium ProWorker
 Adaptable harrow in
depth and width
 7,5 m width and 6 m
depth
 HP storage build in
 GPS and depth sonar
 Up to 100 ha
 High speed
 Spray for scum
The ‘Hans Matthijs’
Successfully cleaning of 60 ha drinking water reservoir

22. © Arcadis 2016
Equipment - Storage
 Double walled
containers
 Pontoon for off
shore refilling

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 Fencing
 Signs
 Toolbox meeting
 Personal protection
 HAZOP and CE
Health & Safety

24. © Arcadis 2016
 Treatment time/cruising speed/engine power
 Stability and balancing the load
 Stock storage and refilling
 Accessibility of stock
 Treatment depth and dosing speed
 Structures, lines, aquatic flowers
 Mobilizing and demobilizing boat and pontoon
It is a job for skilled technicians with professional
equipment!
Also to keep in mind…

25. © Arcadis 2016
 With current vessel
 <100 hectare (250
acres)
 <6 m depth
 Highly impacted and
‘matured’ blooms e.g.
small ponds
 Potential resistance
of some types?
 Treatment time
 Permit: Only available
in The Netherlands
Limitations
Yes! It is still not the silver bullet!

26. Regulatory Aspects

27. © Arcadis 2016
 Applying chemicals in surface waters in Europa is regulated by European
Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)
 Arcadis is the only organization licensed by CTGB (Dutch partner ECHA) to
apply H2O2 in surface waters in the Netherlands
 Application of hydrogen peroxide is allowed for conducting experiments or trials
 Experiments by University of Amsterdam, execution by Arcadis
 Basic monitoring:
 Phytoplankton
 Zooplankton
 Toxins
 Abiotic water quality
 Supervision
 Under research: Apply for product authorization
Approved biocide?

28. More research

29. © Arcadis 2016
Extend and improve our method
 Applicability for different types of cyanobacteria
 Early application: Develop a new method to suppress the springtime recruitment of
cyanobacteria from lake sediments with a slow-release peroxide formulation.
 P-reduction: Harvesting of the floating biomass of lysing Microcystis cells as a cost-
effective and non-invasive alternative for existing P-reduction programs
 Hidden risks (such as adaptation and change in toxicity)
 Biodegradation/chemical oxidation of cyanotoxins released from lysing cells
 Multiple lake treatments in the coming years (approx. 7 for 2016)
 Recent potential new lakes for this program:
 1 ha swimming lake nearby Nantes (France)
 100 ha recreational area in The Netherlands (Rotterdam)
4 years of research is about to start!

30. Wrap-up

31. © Arcadis 2016
 Very low and (environmentally) safe hydrogen peroxide concentrations
 Selective killing of cyanobacteria
 0,2 – 60 ha treated, up to 100 ha possible (with current technology)
 10 sites treated since 2009
 Treatment by trained and experienced technicians with safe and professional
equipment
 Arcadis is licensed by CTGB (Dutch partner European Chemicals Agency) to
apply H2O2 in surface waters in NL (for research projects)
 4 – >>8 weeks of proven effect after treatment. Depends on site specific
conditions
 UvA and Arcadis: A solid research combination for a very promising algaecide
Fundamental questions still remain unsolved: The limits of the ‘hydrogen
peroxide’ method haven’t been reached
Wrap-up

32. © Arcadis 2016
Soon available in the US?

33. © Arcadis 2016
WHO TO CONTACT?
GEERT WIJN
Senior specialist
Arcadis Europe North
Construction Services
+31 64667260
Arnhem
geert.wijn@arcadis.com
RENEE TALENS
Commercial manager/
senior consultant water
Arcadis Europe North
Watermanagement & Landscape
+31 627060141
Arnhem, NL
renee.talens@arcadis.com
JASPER ARNTZ
Consultant
watermanagement & ecology
Arcadis Europe North
Watermanagement & Landcape
+31 646036504
Den Bosch, NL
Jasper.Arntz@arcadis.com
PETRA VISSER
Assistant Professor,
Aquatic Microbiology
University of Amsterdam
Faculty of Science
+31 0205257073
Amsterdam, NL
P.M.Visser@uva.nl

34. © Arcadis 2016

35. © Arcadis 2016
Arcadis.
Improving quality of life.