Abstract: An oxidation chamber used for irradiating an incoming liquid containing unwanted organic pollutants has a structure that facilitates automatic self-cleaning at intervals. A modular construction is used, and three basic types of modules are employed. One of the modules is a TEFLON.RTM. lined carbon steel pipe through which a shuttling scraper is forced at intervals. The shuttling scraper includes an annular wiper that simultaneously cleans the inside surface of the surrounding tubular module as well as the outside surface of an enclosed quartz tube. The annular wiper sealingly engages the quartz tube and the tubular module so that it is driven like a piston by the full pressure of the liquid. When the shuttling scraper has reached the end of the tubular module, it parks itself in a position that causes only minimal pressure drop.

Abstract: An oxidation chamber used for irradiating an incoming liquid containing unwanted organic pollutants has a structure that facilitates automatic self-cleaning at intervals. A modular construction is used, and three basic types of modules are employed. One of the modules is a TEFLON.RTM. lined carbon steel pipe through which a shuttling scraper is forced at intervals. The shuttling scraper includes an annular wiper that simultaneously cleans the inside surface of the surrounding tubular module as well as the outside surface of an enclosed quartz tube. The annular wiper sealingly engages the quartz tube and the tubular module so that it is driven like a piston by the full pressure of the liquid. When the shuttling scraper has reached the end of the tubular module, it parks itself in a position that causes only minimal pressure drop.

Abstract: A series of staggered baffles defines a serpentine flow path consisting of a number of segments through the oxidation chamber. Within each segment, a group of high intensity ultraviolet lamps is mounted, and a reagent inlet is provided at the upstream end of each segment, thereby permitting the processing of a liquid containing a hazardous compound through a sequence of chemical reactions carried out in the presence of intense ultraviolet radiation within the various segments of the flow path. Within each segment a different reagent may be used along with a different intensity of ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: An activated carbon adsorption column for the treatment of waste water is continuously sterilized and/or regenerated in pulsed batches of carbon amounting to 5 to 25 percent of the working column quantity transferred, alternately, from the influent face of the column to one of two, off-stream blow case vessels for steam processing and returned to the effluent face of the working column upon the next programmed pulsing interim.

Abstract: An activated carbon adsorption column for the treatment of waste water is continuously sterilized and/or regenerated in pulsed batches of carbon amounting to 5 to 25 percent of the working column quantity transferred, alternately, from the influent face of the column to one of two, off-stream blow case vessels for steam processing and returned to the effluent face of the working column upon the next programmed pulsing interim.

Abstract: Water is treated to selectively remove substantially all of the nitrates present. This selective removal of nitrates is accomplished by adjusting the pH of the water to be treated, if necessary, to a pH of less than 8, and then passing the pH-controlled water through activated carbon. In one of the preferred embodiments, the spent activated carbon is substantially completely regenerated by backwashing to permit reuse of the carbon.