Algaecide
biocide used for killing and preventing the growth of algae
Algaecide or algicide is a biocide used for killing and preventing the growth of algae, often defined in a loose sense that, beyond the biological definition, also includes cyanobacteria ("blue-green algae"). An algaecide may be used for controlled bodies of water (reservoirs, golf ponds, swimming pools), but may also be used on land for locations such as turfgrass.
Types
Inorganic compounds
Some inorganic compounds are known since antiquity for their algicidal action due to their simplicity.
Copper(II) sulfate remains "the most effective algicidal treatment". A related traditional use is the Bordeaux mixture, used to control fungus on fruits.
Hydrated lime, as a biocide, is allowed in the production of organic foods.
Barley straw
Barley straw, in the United Kingdom, is placed in mesh bags and floated in fish ponds or water gardens to help reduce algal growth without harming pond plants and animals. Barley straw has not been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as a pesticide and its effectiveness as an algaecide in ponds has produced mixed results during university testing in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is unclear how straw actually works.
Synthetic algicides
Synthetic algicides include:
Benzalkonium chloride – "quat" disinfectant that attacks membranes
Bethoxazin – "new broad spectrum industrial microbicide" in 2012, noted as "Canceled in U.S." in 2022 PubChem-EPA query
Cybutryne – banned since 2023 in ship paint
Dichlone – quinone fungicide/algaecide, not persistent in soil
Dichlorophen – also kills invertebrate animals and bacteria
Diuron – herbicide/algaecide, inhibits photosynthesis
Endothal – herbicide/algaecide, inhibits protein phosphatase 2A
Fentin – quinone fungicide/algaecide, discontinued
Isoproturon – selective substituted urea herbicide, discontinued
Methabenzthiazuron – substituted urea herbicide, discontinued
Nabam – fungicide/algicide discontinued in the EU over cancer
Oxyfluorfen – herbicide, "very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects"
Pentachlorophenyl laurate
Quinoclamine – herbicide/algicide, not used in most of the EU
Quinonamid
Simazine – herbicide/algaecide, inhibits photosynthesis
Terbutryn
Tiodonium
Algicidal Bacteria
Algicidal bacteria are a diverse group of bacteria that either directly or indirectly inhibit the growth of algae.
The public source identifies “Algaecide” as biocide used for killing and preventing the growth of algae. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Algaecide, biocide and used.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Algaecide”, the useful work is to connect “biocide used for killing and preventing the growth of algae” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 31, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q904414. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2012, 2022 and 2023.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Algaecide”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Algaecide primary sources, Algaecide archive and Algaecide research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Algaecide”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Algaecide” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.