Application of Microbubbles and Shock Pressures to Ship's Ballast Water Treatment

Abstract

The present paper reports the fundamental research for the sterilization treatment of marine bacteria contained in ships' ballast water. In the field of maritime sciences, destruction of marine ecosystem caused by sea creatures carried in ships' ballast water to different seas is a serious international problem. In order to solve the problem, a new sterilization technique using shock wave and microbubble is proposed to develop more secure and environmentally friendly treatment method for ships' ballast water. This method applies mechanical and chemical effects of shock pressures and free radicals generated by contraction and collapse of microbubbles to marine bacteria. Our previous and ongoing works are presented and prospective approaches that need to be solved the problems are described.