Resource detail
Title: Ballast water treatment
Organization:National Chemical Laboratory
Source:NCL Innovations Resource Center, National Chemical Laboratory
Year:2011
Ships when leaving the port empty, take seawater into ballast tanks for stability and to adjust buoyancy. When the ballast water is emptied at a different location, it releases microorganisms into the location, causing environmental pollution and ecological imbalance. Scientists at the National Chemical Laboratory have developed an apparatus which can filtrate and disinfect sea water/ ship’s ballast water. It is based on a mechanical process that kills micro-organisms to the required levels, using hydrodynamic cavitation and rupture of cavities to kill micro-organisms. They can also be used in making potable drinking water from a contaminated source.
Outcome/Benefits: Areas of applications include sea water treatment; ship’s ballast water treatment; and making potable drinking water from a contaminated source. This is an efficient disinfection technology and easily installed on the vessel-minimum area for installation as filtration and disinfection happen in a single equipment.
Commercially tested: Yes
Patent Details: US# 7815810, 7585416
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