Destruction of Chemical and Biological Agents in Water by Hybrid Gas-Liquid High Voltage Electrical Discharge Reactors

Novel, technologically feasible, and cost effective alternatives are needed for removing chemical and biological contaminants that threaten drinking water. Minimizing the potential for producing disinfection by-products (DBP?s), sludges, and harmful residues is also a factor. Ideally, the treatment technology would be inexpensive, simple to use, and serve as a supplement for current disinfection systems for water utilities. Liquid-phase Pulsed Corona Discharge (PCD) in water has recently demonstrated the potential to be an inexpensive and energy efficient method for accomplishing all of these goals. A PCD reactor was tested in Phase I for its capable of destroying bacteria and chemical agent simulants under two batch reactor configurations. The PCD technology is capable of destroying chemical simulants and bacterial contaminants in all reactor configurations, at a wide range of concentrations. The bacterial kill rate increases exponentially with increasing power input. The PCD can be configured successfully in a continuous flow system. Additional development work on optimizing the continuous flow system for appropriate corona discharge and gas-liquid contact is needed with the goal of complete biological disinfection and destruction of chemical agents. This proposed effort,if successful, would lead to a continuous, skid mounted prototype system that can be tested on surface waters of the Army's selection.