TEST EXPLORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ULTRASONICATOR INVASIVE SPECIES WATER TREATMNET FOR BALLAST WATER MANAGEMNET

Abstract

This technical report presents findings from bench-scale evaluation of the ultrasonicator invasive species water treatment developed by UPIR LLC to inactivate aquatic organisms. This evaluation was the first attempt to assess this technology as a potential flow through or recirculating ballast water treatment method for use on ships within the Laurentian Great Lakes. The evaluation began in January 2022 and ended in February 2022. All analyses occurred at the Lake Superior Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in Superior, Wisconsin, USA. According to the developer, the UPIR ultrasonicator invasive species water treatment system produces a unique cavitation and agitation environment within the treated water to destroy unwanted organisms. Biological effectiveness testing was completed with the bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium, and algae, Selenastrum capricornutum, in dechlorinated laboratory water. The system was found to be ineffective in the treatment of bacteria and algae when the organisms were exposed to a single pass through the system at a flow rate of 6 gpm. However, when exposed to multiple passes through the system, the delayed mortality of bacteria increased, and effectiveness with algae remained low. Water quality parameters were minimally impacted by the ultrasonicator invasive species water treatment.