Revista UIS Ingenierías

Vol. 24 No. 1 (2025): Revista UIS Ingenierías
Articles

Cyanotoxin degradation evaluation through low frequency ultrasound

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  • Jinna Marcela Loaiza-González ,
  • Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente,
  • Natalia Andrea Herrera- Loaiza,
  • Gustavo A. Peñuela-Mesa
Jinna Marcela Loaiza-González
Universidad de Antioquia
Ainhoa Rubio-Clemente
Universidad de Antioquia
Natalia Andrea Herrera- Loaiza
Universidad de Antioquia
Gustavo A. Peñuela-Mesa
Universidad de Antioquia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18273/revuin.v24n1-2025008

Published 2025-03-19

Keywords

  • advanced oxidation process,
  • algal bloom,
  • alternative treatment, cyanotoxins,
  • low frequency ultrasound,
  • risk assessment,
  • sonication,
  • tropical reservoir,
  • water purification,
  • water quality
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Loaiza-González , J. M. ., Rubio-Clemente, A., Herrera- Loaiza, N. A. ., & Peñuela-Mesa , G. A. . (2025). Cyanotoxin degradation evaluation through low frequency ultrasound. Revista UIS Ingenierías, 24(1), 91–100. https://doi.org/10.18273/revuin.v24n1-2025008

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Abstract

Cyanotoxins, such as microcystins (MC) and nodularins (NOD), are highly stable and resistant to conventional physical and chemical degradation, posing a significant risk to human health. In the present work, low frequency ultrasound was used as an advanced oxidation process to degrade cyanotoxins from a Colombian reservoir, evaluating the efficiency of the sonication process, using different powers (10, 30 and 50 W) and exposure times (5, 10, 20 and 30 min) under a frequency of 40 kHz. Ultrasonication proved to be ineffective for MC-LR concentrations up to 2595.42 μg/L, as no significant degradation was observed after 30 minutes of treatment. Additionally, a notable difference was evident in the concentrations of cyanotoxins in the water between sampling campaigns. Thus, risk assessment, implementation of monitoring programs and mitigation efforts in reservoirs deserve greater attention.

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