Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid particles, particularly mercury compounds and alloys, from a fluid, such as dental waste water, contaminated therewith, comprising a rotatable container to receive contaminated fluid, said container having a vertical peripheral wall and an upper horizontal wall depending from the outer periphery thereof to collect particles centrifugally urged thereagainst owing to the rotation of said container, and means at the lower part of said rotatable container communicating with a collecting means for recovering a mixture of fluid and particles having been collected at the peripheral part of said container. When the container ceases to rotate, the particles held at the periphery of the vessel are caused to pass gravitationally into a vessel communicating with the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and/or disinfecting especially so-called handpieces in a dentist's equipment. The improved apparatus comprises a vessel which is fillable with a suitable liquid or liquid mixture. Said vessel encompasses a rotatably disposed shaft extending through a channel serving as an outlet for the liquid or liquid mixture. There are further means for temporary driving connection with the shaft of the handpiece intended for cleaning and a source for producing a force which, firstly, serves to cause the liquid or liquid mixture, preferably under rotation, to flow out through the channel and then pass through the handpiece, and, secondly, imparts a rotary motion to the shaft, which via a driving connection is transmitted to all of the moving transmission parts of the handpiece.