| abstract |
A liquid purification device (A) comprises a chamber 10 for forming a vortex in a liquid, wherein the chamber comprises a wall. The wall comprises a filter 5. The device also comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and an ultrasonic source 4. The device is configured to remove pathogens from a liquid. Preferably, the device also comprises an electro-coagulation reactor. The filter may comprise a twill weaved wire mesh. An ultraviolet bulb or microwave generator can be utilised as the electromagnetic radiation source, which may be contained within a quartz tube 3 that is housed within the chamber. Suitably, the ultrasonic source is located so that liquid that has passed through the filter is exposed to ultrasound and located so that pathogens and/or particulate matter are/is displaced from the inner surface of the filter. In another aspect, a method of purifying liquid comprises the steps of applying electromagnetic radiation to the liquid, directing the liquid to flow around an electromagnetic source, exposing the liquid to silver, filtering the liquid using a filtration screen and applying ultrasound to the liquid. The device can be used in a variety of processes, e.g. to separate radioactive matter from nuclear waste. |