Phoslock®: An Effective Technology for Effective Dissolved Phosphorus Removal in Extensive Water Bodies under a Wide Range of Chemical Conditions

The performance of a new modified bentonite product-Phoslockreg-in reducing the dissolved phosphorus (DP) concentrations of different types of water bodies is illustrated through a number of small and large scale laboratory as well as field trials. In most cases, Phoslockreg removed more than 97% of the DP within 24-36 hours. Moreover, it is shown that the DP reduction can occur under a wide range of pH, dissolved organic carbon and salinity. The subsequent effects of the DP reduction in improving the quality of an estuarine water sample are also demonstrated in a preliminary large scale laboratory study. This study showed that the concentration of chlorophyll-a, an indication of the biomass content of the water sample, was significantly reduced and the pH of the treated water returned closer to the neutral level within days of Phoslockreg application. Furthermore, additional benefits in the appearance of the water sample were observed within the same period.