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After a trial on a heavily polluted lake in China, Phoslock Environmental Technologies has announced its patented Phoslock application has achieved ‘excellent’ results.
Its patent resulted in a 75 per cent reduction of phosphorus over the first four days of application. The results also showed the ease of application and it had no effect on fish, plants and humans.
If a water body has a high concentrate of phosphorous, harmful algal blooms can form which leads to water quality and health deteriorating.
Developed in the early 2000s, Phoslock permanently binds phosphate and forms a new inert mineral called rhabdophane. This new mineral then becomes part of the natural lake sediments.
Phoslock removes excess phosphate from water bodies and thus significantly reducing the growth of harmful algae. If this was left without intervening algal blooms will dominate and throw out the balance of the natural environment.
In humans an abundance of phosphate can be extremely toxic and cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and dizziness. High levels can also affect the body’s ability to effectively use other minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium.
As a result of the excellent trial results, China has placed an initial order of $1 million worth of material. With nine large polluted lakes in the area, Phoslock noted the Chinese government was urgently seeking ways to restore water quality to boost tourism and economic development.
“This is another milestone in the developing growth of Phoslock, the material and Phoslock the company. These lakes are so large that they cannot be treated in s single application, therefore we will apply Phoslock progressively which is likely to take some years,” Phoslock Chairman Laurence Freedman said.
As a result of this announcement Phoslock shares were up almost 18 percent to sit at $0.53.
