Scientists have developed a new and much cheaper method to sterilize the ballast water of ships, preventing the spread of invasive species and protecting the environment. This new method, which uses ultraviolet light combined with hydrogen peroxide, is far less expensive than the systems currently being used and could greatly reduce the environmental impact of shipping. The process works by using ultraviolet light to break down the cell walls of aquatic organisms before a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide is added to kill any remaining organisms. With this method, ships could be outfitted with a compact system that would sterilize their ballast water in a fraction of the time and cost of current systems.

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source: Phys.org