TESTS OF THE NANO BUBBLE OZONE TECHNOLOGY (3 HP UNIT)

Abstract

This technical report presents the bench-scale evaluation of the Nano Bubble Ozone Technology 3-horsepower unit (NBOT) developed by NABAS Group Inc. of Rockville, Maryland. This evaluation was the first to assess NBOT as a potential, in-tank, recirculating ballast water treatment method for the Laurentian Great Lakes. The evaluation began in March 2019 and ended in June 2019. All analyses occurred at the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) at the University of Wisconsin-Superior (UWS) in Superior, Wisconsin, USA. The treatment technology uses cavitation to create ultrafine microbubbles (nanobubbles) containing ozone (O3) generated by the system. According to the developer, the resulting ozone and hydroxyl radical biproducts destroy all chemicals containing activated functional groups (aldehydes, ketones, amines, nitrates, etc.), RNA, DNA, peptides, steroids, as well as activated organic compounds (herbicides and pesticides), and microbial toxins. The ability of NBOT to increase dissolved ozone and oxidation-reduction potential in a 1000-L treatment tank was tested at two water temperatures (~10°C and ~25°C) using both dechlorinated laboratory water and amended dechlorinated laboratory water. Ozone levels observed to be generated by NBOT were lower than anticipated based on observations by Dr. Peter Moeller of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) who was utilizing a newer model of NBOT. Biological dose effectiveness testing was not completed, per the developer’s request, due to below expected levels of ozone.