Claims
- 1. A method of retarding the growth of algae comprising the steps of providing an aqueous solution which, if left untreated, is susceptible to the growth of algae, moving an aqueous medium along a flow path in a first direction, said flow path terminating at said aqueous solution for adding said medium to said solution, and controllably injecting into the aqueous medium before said medium is added to said solution a gas stream having a nitrogen content in excess of 90%, the injection of the gas stream also flowing in said first direction and being at a flow rate of at least 0.01 cubic feet per hour whereby said gas stream and said aqueous medium continue to intermix along said flow path prior to reaching the termination of the flow path.
- 2. The method of claim 1 including the step of controlling the flow along the flow path.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen in the gas stream exceeds 95%.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixed gas and aqueous medium flows along a tortuous path to assure intimate intermixing thereof.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen content of the gas is about 99% and the flow rate is about 0.1 cubic feet per hour.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution is exposed to a nutrient-rich environment and the mixed gas and aqueous medium is added to the aqueous solution in an amount sufficient to retard the growth of algae in the solution exposed to the nutrient-rich environment for a period equal to at least twice the useful life of the same aqueous solution when not treated with the aqueous medium.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the aqueous solution is exposed to the nutrient-rich environment during photographic film processing.
RELATED APPLLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 143,656, filed Nov. 1, 1993.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
143656 |
Nov 1993 |
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