Article from the U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings of the Marine Safety Council,
July-Sept, 1996, Vol. 53, No. 3, "How Technology is Affecting the Maritime World".

cell2.jpg - 59.2 K maintenance of the impermeable phospholipid membrane is essential for cell life. The bacteria cell membrane contains protein channels that transport different ions across the membrane to control both electrical and chemical potential that exists across it (Plate No. 2). When microorganisms are subjected to a strong magnetic flux field, the ability of the protein channels to maintain the electrical and chemical potential across the cellās membrane is greatly affected. In brief, the membrane is drastically torn apart and the microorganism is destroyed. The question arises "What remains after the microorganism is ripped apart?" Since we are dealing with microbe sized organisms, the resulting debris after destruction are sub-micron in size. These debris remain suspended in solution and are small enough to pass through primary and secondary filters, delivery pumps, diesel pressure pumps and injector tips. They are then burned with the fuel, leaving no hazardous material with which to contend.

concluded that somehow this controlled the material that caused the fuel line and filter clogging.

Some ten years ago, Lindsay Forrest, a New Zealand marine engineer, after observing a similar phenomenon, put together a team to prove this theory and then developed a practical device to control microorganisms in marine diesel fuel. After many years of scientific research and development to produce the proper "flux field environment", they introduced the De-Bug TM Model L-1000 Fuel Decontamination Unit. The success of this unit is based on a specific flow rate through a patented stack of three ceramic-coated permanent magnets (Tri-mag TM ) which achieves a microorganism kill rate efficiency of nearly 100% (97.6%) in one pass.

WHY MICROORGANISMS
HATE MAGNETS

Microorganisms are single-celled organisms surrounded by a phospholipid membrane. The purpose of the membrane is two-fold. First, it physically contains the cellās organelles and the other cellular machinery (proteins) needed for survival. Second, it maintains a separation between the intracellular and extracellular salt solutions in which the cell exists (Plate No. 1). This separation of the ions across the bacterial cell wall and the

WHAT ABOUT BIOCIDES?

A common method for killing "bugs" is to dose fuel with biocides. However, typical biocides are so highly concentrated that even a small spill can be potentially devastating. These toxic chemicals which kill the fuel "bugs" are also poisonous to all other animal and plant life. Further, tank bottoms containing biocides become more dangerous to handle and fall within regulated controls for hazardous material disposal. Recently, a study that focused on the effects of biocides in fuel combustion revealed an increase of NOx between 0.002-0.004% above the normal NOx emissions. Although this appears to be negligible, it cannot be ignored as the EPA regulates the sale of additives that contribute to air pollution. As a result, Biocides are beginning to cause concern as they are dangerous to handle and damaging to the environment. Some countries may prohibit their future use.
Biocide dosing of fuel can cause other problems. "Fallout" of dead cells to the tank bottoms forms sludge that could still find its way through the fuel system, clogging fuel lines and filters, potentially leading to


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