A low-energy intensive electrochemical system for the eradication of Escherichia coli from ballast water: Process development, disinfection chemistry, and kinetics modeling

► Inactivation of Escherichia coli could be achieved within 60 s. ► Inactivation of E. coli was obtained with low energy consumption of 0.009 kWh/m3. ► Electro-chlorination was the major disinfection mechanism. ► Ozone and free radicals lead to 20% of killing in chloride-free electrolytes. ► Disinfection kinetics model was developed to describe the inactivation of E. coli.