RU2537010C1 - Sampling method from ballast containers of vessels ships "river-sea" and device for its implementation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: biotechnology.SUBSTANCE: method comprises taking the water from the containers with their subsequent analysis for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms. At that the combined sample is formed of sample containers, for which pumping of ballast water of each selected container is carried separately for 5-10 minutes in a volume of at least 200 liters through the mechanical filters. Vibrio cholerae are deposited on cartridges with pores from 2 microns and larger microorganisms - on cartridges with pores from 10 to 50 microns. Upon completion of selection the cartridges are pulled out and placed in sterile containers, which are delivered for analysis to the laboratory. The sampling procedures are carried out for 2-2.5 hours and the infestation of the vessel is determined based on the combined sample. The device comprises a suction pump with the suction pipe attached to it and is made in the form of a portable structure having bases and a lid with a handle. On the base of the device the evacuation pump and two filters are mounted consecutively, equipped with replaceable cartridges of mechanical cleaning. The pump and filters are interconnected by pipeline, and between the pump and the first filter the water meter is built in to record the pumped ballast water.EFFECT: increased efficiency of bacteriological studies of ballast water.2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the field of obtaining and preparing samples of ballast water samples, and in particular to methods and devices for sampling water and ballast tanks of ships and river-sea vessels, for the purpose of bacteriological research.

Currently, there is a serious threat to the environment and human health in the introduction of pathogens for humans through uncontrolled discharge of ship's ballast water. According to a rough estimate, in the ballast water of all ships in the world, from 7 to 10 thousand different species of marine inhabitants are transported simultaneously: invertebrates, eggs, larvae, bacteria and viruses, including Vibrio cholerae.

In accordance with the International Convention on the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (2004), where the following indicators are included in the ballast water quality standard: the presence of toxigenic vibrio cholera (01 and 0139 with less than 1 CFU per 100 mm), defined E. coli (less than 250 CFU per 100 milliliters), intestinal enterococci (less than 100 CFU per 100 milliliters) and less than 1. Also, this standard normalizes the presence of viable microorganisms of various sizes in ballast water: the size of which is 50 micrometers or more e, and microorganisms whose size is 10 micrometers or more. The World Health Organization is concerned about the issue of ballast water discharge, which, in the Recommendations on the Procedure for Conducting Inspection on Ships, when issuing sanitary control certificates for exemption from sanitary control, provides for a whole section: “Ballast tanks, prevention of the international spread of diseases as a result of discharge”.

A known bottle-type bottle-meter on a rod of type GR-16M (see TU 52-05-62-64) containing a container in the form of a bottle inserted into a metal clip and fixed to it with a clamping tape and screw, with the bottle clip installed and mounted on the rod, and the bottle is equipped with a metal head through which two tubes pass (water intake and air outlet).

The disadvantage of the bathometer is that it is impossible to use it through measuring holes with a diameter of 40-55 mm, and it will take a lot of time (1-1.5 hours) to remove the fasteners (studs, nuts) through the bathometer through the inspection covers of ballast tanks.

In addition, the bathometer will not provide reliable information about the presence of certain microorganisms, since the sample is taken in a volume of 1 l, without pumping water in the tank, most often this is the surface layer.

A known probe for collecting water samples from bottom sediments (see US Pat. RU No. 2446388, class G01N 1/10, 09/15/2010), including a control unit connected via a cable to an airtight container containing a system of at least than two tanks connected in parallel with hoses for accumulating water samples and a sampling pipe, one end of which is connected through a solenoid valve to a system of containers, and the other end is made with openings for the entry of pore water and is equipped with a filter, while the containers for pore water are made in the form of syringes.

However, the known device is intended for taking bottom sediments of water areas and cannot be used for microbiological studies in view of the small volume of samples and the inability to separate microorganisms by size.

For the prototype, a method and system was selected for sampling and determining the presence of chemical compounds in containers (see Pat. RU No. 2126160, class G01N 35/02, G01N 1/22, G01N 21/64), including means for sample extraction, made in the form of a pump out of the pump, and further comprises a control means for starting the injection of fluid before starting the extraction of the fluid with the help of this pump.

The disadvantage of the prototype is its complexity, the stationary structure operates in the mode of conveyor production, which is problematic for installation on moorings and motor ships of various designs.

The technical task of the invention consisted in the development of a method and device in the form of a portable structure for the selection of ship ballast water, which can significantly reduce the time for water intake and increase the efficiency of bacteriological studies of ballast water of river-sea vessels in accordance with established standards.

The problem is achieved in that in the known method of sampling from ballast tanks of river-sea vessels, including taking water from tanks with their subsequent examination for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms, a combined sample is formed from selective containers, for this ballast water is pumped each selected container separately for 5-10 minutes in a volume of at least 200 liters through mechanical filters, and the cholera vibrios are deposited on cartridges with pores of 2 microns and larger microorganisms on artridges with pores from 10 to 50 microns, and upon completion of the selection, the cartridges are pulled out and placed in sterile containers that are delivered to the laboratory for examination, while sampling procedures are carried out in 2-2.5 hours and the contamination of the vessel is judged by the combined sample.

The proposed method can be implemented using a device made in the form of a portable structure having a base and a cover with a handle, while the pump and two filters are sequentially fixed to the base, the latter are equipped with replaceable mechanical cleaning cartridges, the first with pores of 50 μm, and the second from 2-10 microns, while the pump and filters are connected by a pipeline, and between the pump and the first filter a water meter is built in to fix the pumped ballast water.

The essence of the invention is illustrated in the drawing, where, on the basis of 1, are fixed: a suction pump 2 (EIm61C) and sequentially a mechanical filter 3 with pores of 50 μm and a filter 4 with pores of 10 μm. Between the pump 2 and the filter 3 there is a water meter 5 mounted on the pipeline 6, which connects the entire system with the help of adapter couplings 7.

Each filter is equipped with a flask 8 (water filter A 010) having a removable cartridge 9 for mechanical treatment of water with different pore diameters (one or two, depending on the purpose of the study).

A suction pipe 10 having a check valve 11 is connected to the pump 2.

The design is a portable device on the legs 12, having a cover 13 with a handle 14. The weight of the structure is not more than 3.5 kg The cover is rigidly fixed on the base on both sides with a special lock 15.

The operation of the device is as follows.

The design is installed on the deck of the ship near the measuring hole of the ballast tank under study and connected to the power supply of the ship. Unscrew the plug from the metering hole of the ballast tank (diameter of the metering hole 47-55 mm), and lower the suction pipe 10 at an angle to the inlet, then immerse it in water to a depth of at least 0.2 m (the distance to the bottom of the tank should not be less than 0.5 m). Next, it is necessary to fill the suction pipe 10 and pump 2 through the filler hole with water using a funnel. Turn on the pump 2 and make a test pumping of water (5-7 mm) through the empty flasks 8. Install the necessary cartridges 9 in the filters 4.

To obtain a combined average sample after pumping water from one tank, the device is transferred to another tank, then to a third, etc. After sampling, the cartridges 9 from the flasks 8 are pulled out, placed in a sterile container and delivered to the laboratory for examination.

If it is necessary to examine ballast water for the presence of viable organisms with a diameter of 50 micrometers or more, a mechanical filter with pores of 50 μm is installed, then the cartridge is not placed in the second flask. If it is necessary to determine the number of microorganisms with a diameter of 10 μm or more, the research procedure is as follows: first, a filter with a pore diameter of 50 μm is installed, then a filter with pores of 10 μm. If necessary, examine the water for the presence of cholera pathogens install a cartridge with a pore diameter of 2 microns.

The volume of pumped water is measured with a water meter 5. To determine microorganisms whose diameter is 50 micrometers or more, the volume of pumped water must be a multiple of 1 m3. For the reliability of the study, it is necessary to pump at least 200 liters of ballast. When installing the EJm61C pump (it is the most versatile), the necessary time for pumping such a volume of water is about 5-10 minutes, depending on the distance of the ballast water mirror to the pump axis.

Example.

Carrying out research of the ballast water of a tanker (VF Tanker-7), which has 30 ballast tanks. In the water area of the Taganrog Bay, a water intake was taken from 4 tanks (two from the starboard side and the left) using the proposed device.

To obtain all the necessary studies, the following steps were taken:

The device was delivered to the deck of the ship, the location of the measuring holes of the investigated ballast tanks was determined. Preparatory work was carried out (connecting the device to the power supply, the measuring holes were unscrewed, the suction pipe was lowered into the ballast tank and filled with water) (30 min).

A test pumping of water from the first ballast tank was carried out - (5 min).

After pumping the ballast, samples were taken for examination on E. coli and intestinal enterococci (5 min).

Two flasks are equipped with filters for mechanical purification of water with pores of 50 and 10 micrometers. The first water filter to install a filter with pores of 50 micrometers (5 min).

Water was pumped in a volume of 200 l (10 min).

The design was transferred to another ballast tank and connected to the power supply of the ship (5-6 min).

To take water samples for E. coli and intestinal enterococci, a water meter was disconnected from the pump, the pump was turned on, and water was taken, bypassing the filters in sterile containers (10 min).

The water meter was put in place and water was pumped in a volume of 200 l through two filters (15 min).

Next, the design was transferred to another ballast tank, etc.

In total, it took 2.5 hours to study 4 ballast tanks. During the study, 4 samples were taken for E. coli, 4 samples for enteric cocci and 2 combined samples for microorganisms, the diameter of which is 50 micrometers or more and 10 micrometers or more. The volume of water tested for microorganisms was 0.8 cubic meters.

It should be noted that when conducting research on the ship, operations were carried out to collect ballast from other tanks that were not investigated, i.e. the research was not reflected in the technological process of loading operations, and did not lead to unreasonable downtime of the vessel.

Using the present invention allows, due to the portable design of the device, sampling for research on practically any ships be carried out within 2-2.5 hours, moreover, sampling is carried out through metering holes, which are easily and quickly unscrewed.

In this case, sampling is carried out quickly from several ballast tanks and, if necessary, form one combined average sample, which is especially important for laboratory research.

In addition, when taking water, large volumes of water can be investigated in a short time (the speed of pumping water depends on the power of the pump used). The proposed device is easily assembled from various parts that are produced by industry: pump, water meter, mechanical filters for drinking water. The cost of this design ranges from 3 to 5 thousand rubles, depending on the power of the pump used and the number of installed filters.

Claims (2)

1. The method of sampling from the ballast tanks of river-sea vessels, including taking water from the tanks and then examining them for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms, characterized in that a combined sample is formed from the sample tanks, for this purpose, ballast water is pumped for each sample containers separately for 5-10 minutes in a volume of at least 200 liters through mechanical filters, with cholera vibrios deposited on cartridges with pores from 2 microns, and larger microorganisms on cartridges with pores from 10 to 50 microns at the end of the selection cartridges pull out and placed in sterile containers, which are delivered to the laboratory studies, the sampling procedure is carried out for 2-2.5 hours and the combined sample is judged on the infestation vessel. 2. A device for sampling from ballast tanks of river-sea vessels, comprising a pump with a suction pipe fixed to it, characterized in that it is made in the form of a portable structure having a base and a lid with a handle, while the base is sequentially fixed a suction pump and two filters, the latter equipped with replaceable cartridges for mechanical cleaning, the first with pores of 50 μm, and the second from 2-10 μm, while the pump and filters are connected by a pipeline, and there is a built-in filter between the pump and the first filter n hydrometer for fixing the ballast water being pumped.

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