Abstract: A slurry-forming apparatus and method of using the slurry-forming apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus (122) comprising: a) a vessel, comprising: i) a cylindrical vessel wall (60, 160), the cylindrical vessel wall having an interior surface; ii) a downwardly-sloped floor joined to the vessel wall; an outlet in the downwardly-sloped floor; iii) and one or more baffles (172, 182) along the interior surface of the vessel wall; b) a fluid inlet opening (86) into the vessel and being configured for injecting a fluid into the vessel; c) a granular material inlet opening into the vessel and being configured for providing a granular material into the vessel; and d) the baffles, fluid inlet, granular material inlet and outlet being configured relative to one another whereby a slurry is formed from the injected fluid and provided granular material without substantial mechanical agitation of the vessel, and whereby the slurry exits the vessel through the outlet.

Abstract: In one aspect, a soil slurry mixing apparatus comprises: a) a support structure configured to extend at least partially across a bioreactor vessel; b) at least one fluid inlet conduit supported by the support structure and configured to extend within the bioreactor vessel, the inlet conduit comprising an inlet port; c) a plurality of outlet nozzles supported by the support structure and configured to extend within the bioreactor vessel, the outlet nozzles being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet conduit and comprising outlet nozzle ports configured to be submerged beneath the surface of the slurry within the bioreactor vessel; and d) a pump in fluid communication with the fluid inlet conduit and outlet nozzles and being configured to draw soil slurry from the bioreactor vessel through the inlet conduit port and to discharge said slurry from the outlet nozzle ports to within the bioreactor vessel to mix the soil slurry within the bioreactor vessel.