Abstract: The invention is directed to a high efficiency method for the remediation of large quantities of liquids, operating at low to moderate ambient pressures, in order to reduce environmental or health risks or to purify the liquid for use in industrial processing. Decontamination is achieved through the use of a swirl chamber in which a central vortex is formed which has a core pressure lower than the vapor pressure of the liquid thus inducing cavitation pockets in the vortex, which are then ejected from the nozzle through the exit orifice into a volume of liquid where the cavitation pockets collapse. These cavitation events drive chemical reactions, by generating strong oxidants and reductants, efficiently decomposing and destroying contaminating organic compounds, as well as some inorganics. These same cavitation events also physically disrupt or rupture the cell walls or outer membranes of microorganisms (such as E.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a high efficiency method for the remediation of large quantities of liquids, operating at low to moderate ambient pressures, in order to reduce environmental or health risks or to purify the liquid for use in industrial processing. Decontamination is achieved through the use of submerged liquid jets which trigger cavitation events. These cavitation events drive chemical reactions, by generating strong oxidants and reductants, efficiently decomposing and destroying contaminating organic compounds, as well as some inorganics. These same cavitation events also physically disrupt or rupture the cell walls or outer membranes of microorganisms (such as E. coli and salmonella) and larvae (such as Zebra mussel larvae), leaving the inner cellular components susceptible to oxidation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating particles from liquids is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical swirl chamber with a generally axially symmetric shape, and a porous filter element positioned coaxially inside the swirl chamber. The porous filter is preferably composed of a plurality of porous tubes. The liquid to be treated is forced into the swirl chamber through tangential injection slits extending along most of the height of the chamber, which generate a vortex flow inside the swirl chamber and around the porous filter element. Particle-free liquid permeates across the porous filter, flows along its interior, and is collected at a filtrate outlet port. The remaining liquid, now having a higher particle concentration, flows out of the apparatus and can be separately collected, or recirculated back to the apparatus for further separation. The swirling flow retards particle motion toward the filter element thus minimizing buildup of a cake of particles on the porous filter medium.