Abstract: Systems and methods for removing contaminants from surfaces of a solid material using a flow of compressible fluid to draw incompressible fluid through pathways between fragments of the solid material. At least one method includes introducing solid material into a processing chamber, concurrently directing compressible fluid and incompressible fluid into the processing chamber via the inlet fluid distribution manifold, and operating a vacuum pump to maintain a pressure at a discharge outlet of the processing chamber sufficient to promote the compressible and incompressible fluids each achieving a velocity of at least 10 meters per second within the processing chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing contaminants from surfaces of a solid material using a flow of compressible fluid to draw incompressible fluid through pathways between fragments of the solid material. At least one method includes introducing solid material into a processing chamber, concurrently directing compressible fluid and incompressible fluid into the processing chamber via the inlet fluid distribution manifold, and operating a vacuum pump to maintain a pressure at a discharge outlet of the processing chamber sufficient to promote the compressible and incompressible fluids each achieving a velocity of at least 10 meters per second within the processing chamber.