Robert E Apple

RE41859, Oct 26, 2010

Jul 10, 2006

11/484828

Mo Husain - Encinitas CA, US
Robert Apple - Rancho Mirage CA, US
Dmitry Altshuller - Moreno Valley CA, US
Henry Hunter - San Marcos CA, US

B63B 25/08

114 74R, 210755, 210931, 514557

Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) in ship's ballast water are killed by permeating to equilibrium a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of, preferably, ≧84% nitrogen, ≧11% carbon dioxide and ≦4% oxygen through ship's ballast water until the ballast water itself becomes (i) hypercapnic to ≧20 ppm carbon dioxide, and, by association, (ii) acidic to pH≦7, while preferably further, and also, being rendered (iii) hypoxic to ≦1 ppm oxygen. The permeating is preferably realized by bubbling the gaseous mixture preferably obtained from an inert gas generator through the ballast water over the course of 2+ days while the ballast water is continually maintained a pressure less than atmosphere, preferably −2 p. s. i. or less. The (i) hypercapnic, (ii) acidic and (iii) hypoxic conditions—each of which can be independently realized—synergistically cooperate to kill a broad range of ANS in the ballast water without deleterious effect on the environment when, and if, the ballast water in which the balance of dissolved gases has been changed is discharged.