Abstract: Water contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms is passed over a silver anode of an electrolyte cell in a layer 1 to 4 mm thick. The anode surface and the rate of water flow through the cell are related according to the equation F .gtoreq. c .times. V, wherein F is the anode surface area in cm.sup.2, V is the water flow rate in cm.sup.3 /second and c is a constant of the dimension sec/cm, with a value of 2 to 5. The density of the current in relation to the area of the anode surface is between 1.5 and 3.0 mA/cm.sup.2 and the voltage is such that active oxygen is generated at the anode. The effluent from the cell is safe to drink.

Abstract: The housing of an electrolytic purification apparatus defines a receiving chamber and an electrolytic cell. The receiving chamber communicates with a filling aperture at the top of the housing which is upwardly open in the operating position of the apparatus. A first conduit connects a bottom portion of the chamber with an inlet portion of the cell, and a second conduit connects an outlet portion of the cell, upwardly spaced from the inlet portion but lower than the filling aperture, with a discharge aperture at the lower end of the housing. The chamber, cell, and conduits define a continuous path of liquid flow from the filling to the discharge aperture, the path extending downward in the chamber, upward in the cell, and downward again in the second conduit. Two electrodes, offset from the flow path in the cell in opposite, transverse directions, are supplied with direct current for passage of the current in the cell through liquid flowing in the afore-described flow path.

Abstract: In a water purification cell, a silver anode and a cathode have a spacing of 1 to 4 mm. The anode surface and the rate of water flow through the cell are related according to the equation F .gtoreq. c .times. V, wherein F is the anode surface area in cm.sup.2, V is the water flow rate in cm.sup.3 /second and c is a constant of the dimension sec/cm, with a value of 2 to 5. The density of the current in relation to the area of the anode surface is between 1.5 and 3.0 mA/cm.sup.2 and the voltage is such that active oxygen is generated at the anode.

Abstract: Contaminated water is pumped through the anode compartment of an electrolytic cell which is separated from the cathode compartment by a diaphragm permeable to water and to inorganic ions. Particles of hydrophilic, electrically conductive, carbonaceous material capable of adsorbing the contaminants are retained in the anode compartment by the diaphragm and by screens in the water discharge conduit and are held in turbulent suspension by the flowing water so that they make intermittent conductive contact with the anode surface.

Abstract: Anodic disinfection of drinking water by electric current is enhanced when the electrolytic cell is divided into anode and cathode compartments by a membrane permeable to anions, the water to be disinfected is pumped through the anode compartment, and the electrolyte in the cathode compartment is enriched with chlorides, hydroxides, carbonates, or peroxides of the alkali metals, with hydrogen chloride, or with hydrogen peroxide.