Restoration of the shallow lake Kralingse Plas, the Netherlands, with emphasis on lanthanum-modified bentonite

Journal Article (2026)
Author(s)

Li Kang (Wageningen University & Research)

Maíra Mucci (Wageningen University & Research, LSI Europe B.V.)

Chen Zheng (Wageningen University & Research)

Said Yasseri (LSI Europe B.V.)

Alfons Smolders (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, B-WARE Research Centre)

Jéssica Papera (Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

Karin Finsterle (Wageningen University & Research, LSI Europe B.V.)

Anne Mollema (Waterschap Hollandse Delta)

Robert Goudriaan (Hoogheemraadschap van Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard)

More Authors (External organisation)

Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130163 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
Journal title
Journal of Environmental Management
Volume number
411
Article number
130163
Downloads counter
21
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Abstract

Lake Kralingse Plas (Rotterdam, the Netherlands), with a surface area of 114 ha and an average depth of 2.3 m, regularly suffered from cyanobacterial blooms. To improve water quality and meet the requirements of the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), the responsible authorities, following a system analysis, applied 1064 tonnes of lanthanum-modified bentonite (LMB, commercial name Phoslock®) to the entire lake in November 2021. Water quality was monitored by the water authorities on a monthly basis. Just before the LMB application, at 3, 15, and 36 months post-LMB application, sediment phosphorus (P) release, sediment P fractionation and Lanthanum (La) fate in the sediment were estimated. Following the application, the sediment La content was significantly higher in the top 4 cm of the sediment layers compared to pre-application conditions. The “HCl-P” pool was increased after LMB application, reflecting LaPO4 formation. It was the highest P fraction, increasing from 53.7% at pre-application to 59.5% after 3 months, further increasing to 62.6% of total P after 15 months, and 66.7% after 36 months. This suggested that LMB reduced sediment P release by increasing the non-bioavailable P in the sediment. The average filterable P (FP) fluxes in the sediment cores under anoxic conditions were 6.27 (±4.4), 0.29 (±0.21), −4.65 (±3.1) and 0.27 (±0.42) mg P m−2 day−1 in cores taken before the application, 3, 15, and 36 months after the application, respectively. In addition, to address the LMB efficacy on P release at different pH levels (pH 7 and pH 10), a 256-day sediment core incubation was conducted. The release rate of P following LMB application did not differ between pH 7 and pH 10, indicating the stability of La-bound P under alkaline conditions. This finding is particularly relevant for shallow eutrophic lakes, where high pH and internal P loading may occur.