Algae removal by ultrasonic irradiation–coagulation Original Research Article

The effectiveness of ultrasonic irradiation on algae removal by coagulation was studied. Laboratory results suggest that ultrasonic treatment at 40 kHz and 60W for 15 s can improve algae coagulation removal by 12.4% as compared with direct coagulation. A photometric dispersion analyzer was employed to monitor the algae coagulation in this study. It is also indicated that variation in ultrasonic frequency does not have a notable effect on algae removal while increasing ultrasonic power to more than 60W produces a negative result. The optimal irradiation duration is determined as 15 s. In conclusion, ultrasonic irradiation-coagulation proves effective for algae removal. However, practical application still takes time due to certain limitations of the technique.