Photo of the Week: Corkscrew Ultraviolet Light Technology Mitigates Harmful Algal Blooms Toxin

Chemical treatments targeting harmful algal blooms (HABs) are effective but may harm aquatic life due to the release of toxins from lysed cells. In contrast, a new chemical-free water treatment system uses ultraviolet (UV)-activated, 3D-printed photocatalytic oxidation devices (PODs) to break down HABs-produced toxic compounds. Developed at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Environmental Laboratory, the reusable, corkscrew-shaped PODs (background) combine materials science and environmental engineering to improve efficiency while enabling a sustainable ecological restoration. Researchers, including chemical engineer Jose Mattei-Sosa (inset), are collaborating with scalability experts to prepare the technology for real-world deployment in freshwater environments.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center / Jared Eastman