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BioLargo Spotlight: Introducing the Spiral AOS

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Originally posted on December 14, 2018 In our previous blog posts that detailed the science behind BioLargo Water’s Advanced Oxidation System (AOS), we explained that the AOS treats water by generating reactive iodine molecules at its electrodes. The iodine molecules generated inside the AOS decontaminate and disinfect water in two fundamental ways: 1) by the oxidation of proteins inside bacteria, viruses, or protozoa and 2) by altering the structure of chemical pollutants, often breaking them down entirely. Explaining the mechanism of how the AOS works, we showcased just how effective the AOS is at reducing electrical and consumable costs while treating water. In this blog, we will elaborate upon recent radical design changes BioLargo Water has made to the AOS as part of our effort to continuously improve our technology, and we will illuminate how and why these decisions will result in a more effective and economical product for end-users. Fig 1: Diagram of water flow
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BioLargo Spotlight: NSERC Grant Awarded to Evaluate AOS Water Chemistry

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Originally posted Tuesday, October 9, 2018 If you follow BioLargo Water and its Advanced Oxidation System, you may sometimes wonder how exactly it functions – ie how does it actually treat water? You have probably seen our short descriptions of its function: that it generates highly reactive iodine molecules at its electrodes, resulting in disinfection and decontamination, but the truth is A) this is an oversimplification and B) you may not be entirely clear on what this means! To expand on this simplified explanation: in the AOS there are two modes of actions by which it treats water. One is the oxidation – the chemical action of removing electrons - of proteins inside bacteria passing through the AOS, resulting in inactivation or killing of those bacteria. The second mode of action is the breaking down of pollutants by oxidation, that is to say the structural or chemical alteration of chemical pollutants by the process of oxidation. A peak at an AOS Spiral Reactor
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BioLargo Spotlight: Pharmaceuticals in Water

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Originally posted on September 20, 2018 Diseases are treated and cured with man-made chemicals every day – it’s a fact of life. However, scientists and public officials have long be concerned with the question: what happens when those chemicals (pharmaceuticals) come in contact with a healthy person? As is often the case in science, the answer is: well …. It depends! When a human or animal consumes pharmaceutical products (PPs), what happens to them? These substances are excreted, disposed from the households through sewers and released into the aquatic environment. PP s  are an important group of potential  endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) which have recently attracted much attention of the international scientific community. PP s  such as analgesics, antibiotics, antiseptics, hormones and antidepressants were detected in influents of wastewaters treatment plants, in surface water, in ground water and even in drinking water resources across the world. Their occurrence an
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BioLargo Spotlight: Oil and Gas Industry in Alberta and the AOS

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Originally posted on August 27, 2018 Albertan Oil Sands deposits in Canada cover a surface area of over 140 000 km 2  and represent major value for Canada as quantified in Figure 1. These deposits are a mixture of bitumen, clay, moisture, and sand. Bitumen extraction requires on average of 3.1 barrels of freshwater for every barrel of oil produced. Water is drawn from the nearby Athabasca River and the processed water is then stored in large tailings ponds shown in Figure 2. The environmental risks and the high costs associated with wastewater storage and onsite maintenance onsite represent major challenges to industry, regulators, and stakeholders. The oil sands process waters are different from other conventional Oil & Gas process water. It is still extremely toxic, however, not all OSPWs are similar in complexity and toxicity.  Different organic compounds contribute to toxicity of OSPW. Naphthenic Acids (NAs)and polyaromatic hydrocarbons have been identified as toxic comp
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