title: A low-energy intensive electrochemical system for the eradication of Escherichia coli from ballast water: process development, disinfection chemistry, and kinetics modeling.
abstract: The invasion of biological organisms via ballast water has created threats to the environment and human health. In this study, a cost-effective electrochemical disinfection reactor was developed to inactivate Escherichia coli, one of the IMO-regulated indicator microbes, in simulated ballast water. The complete inactivation of E. coli could be achieved within a very short time (150, 120, or 60 s) with an energy consumption as low as 0.0090, 0.0074 or 0.0035 kWh/m(3) for ballast water containing E. coli at concentrations of 10(8), 10(7) and 10(6) CFU/100 mL, respectively. Electrochemical chlorination was the major disinfection mechanism in chloride-abundant electrolytes, whereas oxidants such as ozone and free radicals contributed to 20% of the disinfection efficiency in chloride-free electrolytes. Moreover, a disinfection kinetics model was successfully developed to describe the inactivation of E. coli.
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: A K M Khorshed
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D012767:Ships; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*