Many process operations in the electronics, chemical, brewing and whisky manufacturing industries produce waste water, which is mildly contaminated, but which could be sterilised and reused. For example, in the paper manufacturing industry, the large amounts of water used become contaminated with bacteria, which must be expensively treated with toxic chemicals (e.g. chloramines) to allow partial reuse. Mercury vapour lamps are at present used for a variety of UV sterilisation processes (most bacteria and viruses require 2000 to 6000 /spl mu/W.s.cm/sup -2/ of UV radiation for 90% kill), but their throughput capabilities are limited by their dissipation ratings. In this project it is intended to use an underwater plasma in a specially designed sealed reactor vessel, to inactivate bacteria and yeast cultures in order to allow process industries to recirculate/reuse their process water, and to investigate other possible areas of water treatment where the system could be used efficiently or be used to increase the efficiency of downstream treatment units. The unit is anticipated to be of compact physical size requiring around 200 J of energy per litre of liquid treated, will not require regular cleaning, and will have low maintenance requirements, as a result of the absence of moving parts and fixed light sources.
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