abstract |
Apparatus and a method are disclosed for decontaminating water, using an ionizing reactor. Water contaminated by organic compounds is introduced into a chamber in which it is concurrently irradiated by microwave and an ultraviolet source to activate it by photolysis. The water is then introduced to a hydroxyl reactor chamber. An oxidizing reagent, such as hydrogen peroxide, is irradiated by subjecting it to the UV source and conducting it through the chamber, without mixing it with the water. The activated water and irradiated oxidizing reagent are then vectored to a locus at which they are mixed under UV from the source. The apparatus and method may be incorporated into a water treatment system employing existing contaminant extraction techniques, such as immiscible fluids separation and turbo-aspirated sparging. |