Abstract: A method of treating wastewater can include introducing wastewater into a wastewater treatment apparatus through a wastewater inlet. The wastewater can be compressed and decompressed via a mechanical pressurizing element and subsequently discharged from the wastewater treatment apparatus via a treated water outlet. The pressure cycling wastewater treatment apparatus can include a confined chamber which encloses an interior volume. The confined chamber can have a wastewater inlet through which wastewater can flow into the confined chamber. In addition, an expansion fluid inlet can receive an expansion fluid into the confined chamber. A treated water outlet can allow treated water to flow out of the confined chamber. Within the interior volume of the confined chamber, a mechanical pressurizing element can be configured to move in a cyclical pattern.

Abstract: A pressure cycling wastewater treatment apparatus can include a confined chamber which encloses an interior volume. The confined chamber can have a wastewater inlet through which wastewater can flow into the confined chamber. In addition, an expansion fluid inlet can receive an expansion fluid into the confined chamber. A treated water outlet can allow treated water to flow out of the confined chamber. Within the interior volume of the confined chamber, a mechanical pressurizing element can be configured to move in a cyclical pattern. Motion of the mechanical pressurizing element can cyclically compress and decompress a mixture of wastewater and expansion fluid inside the confined chamber. The motion of the mechanical pressurizing element can be driven by a driving unit connected to the mechanical pressurizing element through a crankshaft.

Abstract: A pressure cycling wastewater treatment apparatus can include a confined chamber which encloses an interior volume. The confined chamber can have a wastewater inlet through which wastewater can flow into the confined chamber. In addition, an expansion 5 fluid inlet can receive an expansion fluid into the confined chamber. A treated water outlet can allow treated water to flow out of the confined chamber. Within the interior volume of the confined chamber, a mechanical pressurizing element can be configured to move in a cyclical pattern. Motion of the mechanical pressurizing element can cyclically compress and decompress a mixture of wastewater and expansion fluid inside the confined chamber. 10 The motion of the mechanical pressurizing element can be driven by a driving unit connected to the mechanical pressurizing element through a crankshaft.

Abstract: A method of deactivating biomass is set forth. The method includes two stages, a disrupting stage and a rupture stage. The disrupting stage includes the steps of injecting an oxidizer gas into the biomass with minimal or significant elevated pressure and then a depressurizing of the biomass. The steps cause a disruption of cellular membranes of cells present in the biomass. The rupture stage includes the step of injecting the biomass with a rupture gas sufficient to pressurize the biomass to a second elevated pressure following by the depressurizing of the biomass. The injecting and depressurizing steps of the rupture stage can be repeated at least two times in order to rupture the cell membranes and expose residual cell contents.

Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons into more usable hydrocarbon products is provided. The method provides for the steps of adding heavy hydrocarbons to a solvent system to form a reaction medium, and ozonating the reaction medium with an ozone containing gas to provide ozonation products. The solvent system can include a first solvent that solubilizes at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons and a reactive solvent which reacts with ozonation intermediates. Reactive solvent is maintained at concentrations sufficient to decompose ozonation intermediates.

Abstract: A method of removing contaminants from slurry samples is set forth. The method includes the utilization of repeated pressurizing and depressurizing steps to disrupt solidified particles in solid-containing slurries thereby increasing decontamination efficiency. An expansion fluid is injected into the slurry sample sufficient to create microbubbles when the slurry sample is depressurized. The micro bubbles mechanically disrupt the solidified particles increasing contaminant exposure. The microbubbles also provide for increased interfacial regions where contaminants can accumulate at gas-liquid thin films that are in close proximity to and can be effectively removed using a suitable expansion fluid and optional decontamination agents.

Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons into more usable hydrocarbon products is provided. The method provides for the steps of adding heavy hydrocarbons to a solvent system to form a reaction medium, and ozonating the reaction medium with an ozone containing gas to provide ozonation products. The solvent system can include a first solvent that solubilizes at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons and a reactive solvent which reacts with ozonation intermediates. Reactive solvent is maintained at concentrations sufficient to decompose ozonation intermediates.

Abstract: A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds is disclosed that involves dissolving ozone in a bipolar solvent comprising a non-polar solvent in which is of sufficiently non-polar character to solubilized the polycyclic aromatic compounds, and a polar-water-compatible solvent which is fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent. The bipolar solvent with dissolved ozone is contacted with the polycyclic aromatic compounds to solubilize the polycyclic aromatic compounds and react the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds with the ozone to degrade the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds to oxygenated intermediates. The bipolar solvent is then mixed with sufficient water to form separate non-polar and polar phases, the non-polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the oxygenated intermediates.

Abstract: A method of deactivating biomass is set forth. The method includes two stages, a disrupting stage and a rupture stage. The disrupting stage includes the steps of injecting an oxidizer gas into the biomass with minimal or significant elevated pressure and then a depressurizing of the biomass. The steps cause a disruption of cellular membranes of cells present in the biomass. The rupture stage includes the step of injecting the biomass with a rupture gas sufficient to pressurize the biomass to a second elevated pressure following by the depressurizing of the biomass. The injecting and depressurizing steps of the rupture stage can be repeated at least two times in order to rupture the cell membranes and expose residual cell contents.

Abstract: A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds is disclosed that involves dissolving ozone in a bipolar solvent comprising a non-polar solvent in which is of sufficiently non-polar character to solubilized the polycyclic aromatic compounds, and a polar-water-compatible solvent which is fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent. The bipolar solvent with dissolved ozone is contacted with the polycyclic aromatic compounds to solubilize the polycyclic aromatic compounds and react the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds with the ozone to degrade the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds to oxygenated intermediates. The bipolar solvent is then mixed with sufficient water to form separate non-polar and polar phases, the non-polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the oxygenated intermediates.

Abstract: A method for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds is disclosed that involves dissolving ozone in a bipolar solvent comprising a non-polar solvent in which is of sufficiently non-polar character to solubilized the polycyclic aromatic compounds, and a polar-water-compatible solvent which is fully miscible with the non-polar solvent to form a single phase with the non-polar solvent. The bipolar solvent with dissolved ozone is contacted with the polycyclic aromatic compounds to solubilize the polycyclic aromatic compounds and react the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds with the ozone to degrade the dissolved polycyclic aromatic compounds to oxygenated intermediates. The bipolar solvent is then mixed with sufficient water to form separate non-polar and polar phases, the non-polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the polar phase comprising the non-polar solvent and the oxygenated intermediates.