UV-C Treatment for HAB Suppression (CyanoSTUN™)
A fast, chemical-free solution for controlling harmful algal blooms in freshwater environments
CyanoSTUN’s™ mobile UV-C treatment system provides a fast, chemical-free solution for controlling harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater environments. The vessel is a small pontoon boat equipped with a submerged UV-C channel reactor, UV-reflecting PTFE lining, a bow-mounted aluminum debris screen, an electric trolling motor for propulsion, steering, and mixing, and a small portable generator for power. As the vessel moves across the water surface, the top seven inches of the water are treated inside the reactor, pausing cyanobacterial growth for several days and reducing the concentration of cyanotoxins by up to 50%.
Treatment intensity is regulated by adjusting boat speed, allowing operators to tailor UV dose to water conditions. Compact, self-contained, and easy to deploy and operate without technical expertise, the system enables rapid response to blooms in lakes and reservoirs without introducing harmful byproducts, offering a safer, scalable alternative to conventional chemical treatments.
Suppressing HABs caused by toxin-producing cyanobacteria is critical to maintaining water quality and ecosystem health in freshwater lakes and ponds. These blooms disrupt tourism, fisheries, and recreation, while also driving up public health costs. Conventional mitigation methods are often difficult to scale, slow to deploy, and rely heavily on chemicals that can harm beneficial organisms and introduce secondary contaminants. To overcome these challenges, researchers developed the CyanoSTUN™ (Cyanobacterial Suppression Through Ultraviolet-C Neutralization), a mobile, flotation-based system that uses germicidal ultraviolet (UV-C) light to suppress cyanobacteria and their associated cyanotoxins without the use of chemicals.
Benefits:
- Selective targeting: UV-C is contained within the CyanoSTUNTM reactor, preventing unintended impacts on the surrounding ecosystem
- Real-time dose control: Boat speed adjusts UV exposure dynamically based on water clarity and treatment goals
- Debris-resistant design: Mounted screen ensures uninterrupted operation through weedy or debris-laden surface waters
- Rapid, low-cost deployment: Compact, mobile system treats blooms without chemicals or permanent infrastructure
Applications:
- Emergency HAB response
- Clean drinking water reservoirs
- Recreational lake maintenance
- Small-scale bloom management