title: Electrochemical disinfection for ballast water management: technology development and risk assessment.
abstract: Ballast water is essential in maintaining the balance and structural integrity of ships during voyage. However, it has created biological invasion threats to the ocean environment. An innovative electrochemical technology was developed in this study. The microorganisms regulated by the International Maritime Organization (D2) were used as the target organisms. It was found that the required energy to meet the D2 was below 0.006 kWh/m3. The size of disinfector (m3) was about 0.5% of treatment flow rate (m3/h). The complete disappearance of chlorine in seawater was achieved after three days. The ballast tank corrosion was not worsened due to the application of technology. The ecotoxicity studies showed no toxic effect on fish, invertebrate, and algae. Finally, the environmental risk assessment showed the treated water did not pose threats to the environment. It can therefore be concluded that the technology provides a cost-effective and environmental friendly solution to ballast water management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Singapore.
authors.forename: K G Nadeeshani
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: A K M Khorshed
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Shuaiwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D058865:Introduced Species; D010933:Plankton / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012767:Ships
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D002713:Chlorine