Mollusk repellant and methods of water treatment

Abstract

An apparatus comprising copper and zinc adhered to reticulated foam is useful for repelling or preventing mollusk infestation.

1 . An apparatus comprising
 a water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering,   a reticulated foam substrate encased by said water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering; and   copper and zinc fines adhered to said reticulated foam substrate; and   a water permeable, protective outer covering surrounding the water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering,   wherein the water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering increases residency time of water proximate the substrate relative to the residency time of the reticulated foam substrate without the water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering when in use.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the zinc is present in the copper and zinc fines in an amount greater than the maximum saturation concentration of zinc in a solid solution of copper and zinc.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the weight ratio of zinc/copper in the copper and zinc fines is greater than about 43/57.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the wherein the copper and zinc fines are exposed on the surface of the reticulated foam substrate.   
     
     
         5 . An apparatus comprising
 a reticulated foam covering;   a reticulated foam substrate encased by said reticulated foam covering;   copper and zinc fines adhered to said reticulated foam substrate; and   a water permeable, protective outer covering surrounding the reticulated foam covering,   wherein the pores per inch (ppi) and surface area of the reticulated foam covering is higher than the ppi and surface area of the reticulated foam substrate.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5   wherein the reticulated foam substrate has approximately 10 ppi and the reticulated foam covering has approximately 45 ppi.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering comprises a water-flow-restrictive plastic mesh.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5   wherein the reticulated foam substrate has approximately 5-20 ppi and the reticulated foam covering has greater than 40 ppi and less than 60 ppi.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising
 repelling or preventing infestation of mollusks in a body of water infested with mollusks or at risk of infestation by mollusks by contacting the apparatus in  claim 1  with the body of water;   wherein the zinc solubilizes during the contacting step in an amount sufficient to repel or prevent infestation by said mollusks.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising
 repelling or preventing infestation of mollusks in a body of water infested with mollusks or at risk of infestation by mollusks by contacting the apparatus in  claim 5  with the body of water;   wherein the zinc solubilizes during the contacting step in an amount sufficient to repel or prevent infestation by said mollusks.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1   wherein the water-permeable, water-flow-restrictive covering comprises a reticulated foam covering.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11   wherein the ppi of the reticulated foam covering is higher than the ppi of the reticulated foam substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12   wherein the reticulated foam substrate has approximately 10 ppi and the reticulated foam covering has approximately 45 ppi.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12   wherein the reticulated foam substrate has approximately 5-20 ppi and the reticulated foam covering has greater than 40 ppi and less than 60 ppi.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an anchor. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising an anchor. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a fastener.