Nontoxic Exotic Species/Organic Compound Waterway Contamination Control

Ballast water discharge may contaminate receiving waters, creating an extremely pervasive problem in which control/mitigation after introduction is very expensive. Thus, prevention is paramount. This project will develop an automated, modular, pilot-scale add-on ballast treatment system based on the electrocatalytic onsite H2O2 solution generation technology demonstrated in Phase I. Phase II efforts will further refine the technology and its implementation, develop a prototype system capable of treating volumes sufficient for field testing, and further explore the effectiveness/applicability of the chemistry generated. This technology seeks to effectively and practically address the waterway biological/chemical contamination problem via vessel retrofitting while restricting cost, labor, and recordkeeping requirements as prescribed by the National Invasive Species Act of 1996. Eltron Research Inc.'s technology utilizes a novel electrolytic cell to produce environmentally gentle, noncorrosive sterilization/purification H2O2-containing solutions onsite with minimal consumable use. This advantageous technology produces the chemicals on demand at safe concentrations, thus avoiding major transportation and storage costs and considerations, and it readily allows automation. The technology: (1) employs modular hardware, allowing adaptation to specific contamination conditions and vessel sizes as well as simple and compact equipment; (2) requires less energy than ozone generation; and (3) is not overly affected by the system's turbidity or geometry. The chemistry produced is versatile and compatible (synergistically) with other candidate physical technologies, such as ultraviolet (UV) and ultrasonic irradiation or filtration. Additionally, it should be applicable to the treatment of other systems experiencing contamination, biofouling, and possibly scaling problems.