Effect of Hydroxyl Radicals on Photosynthesis Pigments of Phytoplankton of Ship's Ballast Water

Abstract

This chapter presents the effect of hydroxyl radicals on the photosynthesis pigments of phytoplankton in the experimental system of 20t/h for the treatment of ship's ballast water. Hydroxyl radical has strong oxidizing and decoloring effects on phytoplankton (mono-cell algae), which makes the phytoplankton lose its activity and finally results in all mono-cell algae to be killed. With the dissolved OH concentration of 0.68mg/L, the kill efficiencies of bacteria, mono-algae, protozoan reach 100% within 2.67s in the main pipe of ship's ballast water. The results indicate that the contents of chlorophyl-a, chlorophyl-b, chlorophyl-c, and carotenoid are decreased to 35∼64% within 8.0s further to the lowest limit of test after five minutes. The attenuation efficiencies of photosynthesis pigment are 100%. Therefore, the invasive marine species can be killed in the process of the inputting and discharge of ship's ballast water. A physics method is studied, in which the electrons are accelerated resulting in the excitation, dissociation, or ionization of gas molecules by strong ionization discharge.