Dion, J., Y. Richer, Subdev Canada Inc.,  R. Messer, BiO₂xy Incorporated,  1995.  The Effect of Sodium Chlorite Solutions on Zebra Mussel Mortality

Proceedings of The Fifth International Zebra Mussel and Other Aquatic Nuisance Organisms Conference, Toronto, Canada, February 1995

The Effect of Sodium Chlorite Solutions on Zebra Mussel Mortality

Abstract:
The search for more environment-friendly chemicals to treat water systems against zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) brings sodium chlorite under the light. BiO₂xy Incorporated is based in North Carolina, United States. It manufactures a family of stable solutions of sodium chlorite (NaCIO2) commonly used, among other purposes, in poultry industry for cleaning treatment of carcasses against bacterial development and for cooling systems treatment. These products are oxidants, sodium chlorite (NaC1O2), which when dissolved in water produces the chlorite ion, C102-. The other ingredients in solution setup an oscillation reaction that quickly converts C1O2 to chlorine dioxide(CIO2) and dichloride dioxide(C12O2) which in turn, produce superoxide, O2 and up to 62 other intermediates. In the oscillation reactions, these intermediates have very short lifetimes that do not allow the formation of undesired by-products such as THM's, chloramines or PCBS, chlorophenol, without stopping their known biocidal activity.
The effect of four dilutions, 8 ppm, 40 ppm, 120 ppm and 473 ppm of the stock solution of a first product, Z-8, on zebra mussel mortality was investigated in static continuous exposure systems and compared to controls. The entire size class spectrum of the mussel population present at the sampling site was tested by leaving mussels attached to their original rock substrata. Two size class groupings of mussels, 13 mm and less and more than 13 mm in length, were exposed in the same test chambers but were analyzed separately. No mortality occurred in the controls. Concentration 8 ppm had no effect after 166 hours on both size class groupings. Concentrations 40,120 and 473 ppm had observable killing effect within the 331 hours of experiment for both size groupings. The smaller mussels died faster than the larger ones. Another product, Z-11, was similarly tested during fall 1994 with dilutions 8,40,80 and 120 ppm. At 8 ppm dilution, Z-11 had induced only little mortality on both size class groupings after 739 hours. At 40, 80 and 120 ppm dilutions, Z-11 had interesting killing effect for both mussel size groupings within the 739 hours of experiment considering the somehow intermittent treatment used. The results already appear to show that sodium chlorite solutions have the potential for eventually becoming a surrogate to the use of chlorine for the control of zebra mussel. That is because they already show good killing efficiency without being involved in the formation of undesired by-products such as the use of chlorines. On this purpose, the product is engaged in the process of homologation by Agriculture Canada for its use as a treatment against zebra mussels.

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Keywords: Chemical_control, Industry, Zebra_mussel
Product Type: Publication, Proceedings
User Type: Industrial_and_municipal