Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying water by using thermal and/or thermocatalytic processes. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for processing impure water to remove and/or deactivate toxic inorganic, organic, and/or biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, anthrax, E. coli, Giardia cysts, salmonella, hepatitis, and Norwalk viruses. In the thermal process, contaminated water is heated (preferably superheated) forming steam, whereby a majority of inorganic and biological species are removed or deactivated from the water. The steam is then condensed, forming liquid purified water. In the thermocatalytic process, the steam is brought into contact with a hydrolysis catalyst, preferably in the form of a coated surface or replaceable catalyst element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying air to deactivate toxic chemical and biological species such as Sarin, mustard gas, phosgene, cyanogen chloride, Anthrax spores, E. coli bacteria, Salmonella bacteria, Hepatitis virus, and Norwalk virus. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber coupled to a counterflow heat exchanger. Incoming contaminated air is directed through a heating side of a counterflow heat exchanger to preheat it. The air is further heated to a temperature of at least 200° C., which is sufficient to deactivate common biological toxic species. Optionally, the reaction chamber may include a catalyst on a surface area over which the heated air is directed, which enables a thermocatalytic reaction that is particularly effective in deactivating biological and chemical warfare agents, such as anthrax and Sarin.