Potassium Permanganate as an Algicide

POTASSIUM erful oxidizing permanganate, agent, has a powbeen erful oxidizing agent, h s been used to some extent as an algicide for many years, although references to its use for this purpose are few. Numerous papers in which algicidal studies are reported make it increasingly clear that no single chemical is a universal algicide, and that, in reality, an arsenal of algicides is needed for control of algae in water supplies. This paper describes preliminary laboratory studies of the algicidal effect of potassium permanganate, along with determination of its toxicity to fish. The ultimate purpose of these studies is to determine whether potassium permanganate can be used safely in open water where fish are present to control algae.