Abstract: A liquid treatment apparatus constituted of: a vessel arranged to contain liquid; at least one first electrode in contact with the liquid; at least one second electrode in contact with the liquid; an electrical pulse generator, a first polarity output of the electrical pulse generator coupled to each of the first electrodes and a second polarity output of the electrical pulse generator coupled to each of the second electrodes, the first polarity opposing the second polarity; at least one third electrode disposed in the liquid in the vessel, and a mechanical force generator arranged to provide a predetermined mechanical force along a predetermined path within the liquid, a portion of the mechanical force applied to the least one third electrode so as to chaotically interrupt a conducting pathway formed by the at least one third electrode between a pair of the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: To remove a contaminant from a liquid, a pulsed electrical arc discharge is effected between two electrodes immersed in the liquid, thereby creating a plurality of particles within the liquid. One or both of the electrodes is metallic, for example iron or titanium. Before the pulsed electrical arc discharge is terminated, another step that promotes destruction of the contaminant by particles, such as removing the particles from the liquid or adding an oxidizer to the liquid, is performed. In the case of the extra step being adding an oxidizer to the liquid, preferably the termination of the pulsed electrical arc discharge is followed by allowing the liquid and the particles therein to age.

Abstract: To remove a contaminant from a liquid, a pulsed electrical arc discharge is effected between two electrodes immersed in the liquid, thereby creating a plurality of particles within the liquid. One or both of the electrodes is metallic, for example iron or titanium. Before the pulsed electrical arc discharge is terminated, another step that promotes destruction of the contaminant by particles, such as removing the particles from the liquid or adding an oxidizer to the liquid, is performed. In the case of the extra step being adding an oxidizer to the liquid, preferably the termination of the pulsed electrical arc discharge is followed by allowing the liquid and the particles therein to age.

Abstract: A system for plasma treatment of a liquid and corresponding uses thereof, the system comprising a chamber having a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, a source of electromagnetic radiation of wavelength ? coupled to the chamber by a waveguide of appropriate width to provide only fundamental mode of the electromagnetic radiation, a focusing means positioned between the waveguide and the chamber for transmissively focusing the electromagnetic radiation incident thereon to a location within the chamber remote from walls of chamber for creating a plasma at the location, characterized in that the plasma is formed entirely within the liquid.

Abstract: A method of producing microparticles including: (a) providing a system including: (i) a vessel containing a liquid; (ii) at least a first pair of electrodes; (iii) a mechanism for igniting an electrical arc between the electrodes; (b) disposing the first pair of electrodes within the liquid, and (c) effecting at least one pulsed electrical discharge between the electrodes so as to produce a plasma bubble, and to produce the microparticles, the microparticles being associated with the plasma bubble, wherein the pulsed electrical discharge has a pulse duration of less than 1000 microseconds, and wherein the pulsed electrical discharge has a current amplitude of at least 1 ampere (A).

Abstract: A method of producing microparticles including: (a) providing a system including: (i) a vessel containing a liquid; (ii) at least a first pair of electrodes; (iii) a mechanism for igniting an electrical arc between the electrodes; (b) disposing the first pair of electrodes within the liquid, and (c) effecting at least one pulsed electrical discharge between the electrodes so as to produce a plasma bubble, and to produce the microparticles, the microparticles being associated with the plasma bubble, wherein the pulsed electrical discharge has a pulse duration of less than 1000 microseconds, and wherein the pulsed electrical discharge has a current amplitude of at least 1 ampere (A).

Abstract: A method for forming nanostructures on a workpiece includes the steps of: positioning a counter-electrode and a workpiece electrode arrangement relative to each other, such that, there is a gap between the counter-electrode and the workpiece electrode arrangement; and applying an electrical pulse between the workpiece electrode arrangement and the counter electrode, such that, an electrical discharge in produced in the gap. The electrical discharge forms at least one nanostructure in a first region of a surface of the workpiece electrode arrangement. The electrical pulse has a duration of less than one millisecond. The first region is selectively determined by a shape of the counter-electrode and a relative positioning of the workpiece electrode arrangement and the counter-electrode. The scope of the invention also includes a system for performing this method.