This hydrocarbon compound is a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, with alcohol and amine functionality, in an aqueous emulsion. The amines act as surfactants, or “filming amines,” and adhere to wetted metal, plastic, concrete, and glass surfaces to form a film through which biofouling organisms cannot form an attachment. This preventive activity deters mussel infestation by repelling veliger settlement and adhesion to clean surfaces. The product gradually kills zebra mussels already in place by retarding byssal thread formation, adhering to and damaging gill surface membranes, and dispersing mussels. Thus, it prevents new infestations and gradually disperses existing infestations, and is used primarily to prevent infestations in a previously cleaned system.
Efficacy is due to presence on system surfaces, not in bulk water flow.