Abstract
The present paper reports on the development of a new technique of marine bacteria sterilization of ship ballast water using underwater shock waves. The interactions between microbubbles and shock waves are utilized in the proposed technique. The contraction and expansion motion of microbubbles provide biochemical and mechanical sterilization effects by means of free radicals and shock wave pressures. Theoretical and experimental approaches to the development of the present technique are described. The examination of optimum conditions for higher rebound-pressure generation from microbubbles, the observation and pressure measurements in the interaction field between microbubbles and shock waves, the performance of a unique shock wave generator and the bio-experiments with the present technique are featured in this paper.
