Claims
- 1. Apparatus for treating liquid or slurry solution to reduce bacteriological and spore contamination thereof comprising:
- (a) means for containing a liquid or slurry at a predetermined pressure;
- (b) means for introducing gas or gaseous molecule into said liquid or slurry within said containing means;
- (c) agitating means within said containing means for dispersing said gas or gaseous molecule through said liquid or slurry;
- (d) means operably connected for receiving said liquid or slurry and confining said liquid or slurry during a period of sonification;
- (e) means for sonificating said liquid or slurry within said confining means; and
- (f) means for controlling temperature and pressure of said liquid or slurry in said containing means and said confining means wherein said means for controlling applies pressure between 2 TORR to 500 TORR to said liquid or slurry.
- 2. Apparatus for treating liquid or slurry solution to reduce bacteriological and spore contamination thereof comprising:
- (a) means for containing a liquid or slurry at a predetermined pressure;
- (b) means for introducing gas or gaseous molecule into said liquid or slurry within said containing means;
- (c) agitating means within said containing means for dispersing said gas or gaseous molecule through said liquid or slurry;
- (d) means operably connected for receiving said liquid or slurry and confining said liquid or slurry during a period of sonification;
- (e) means for sonificating said liquid or slurry within said confining means wherein said means for sonificating applies an intensity of 3 watts/cm2 to 30,000 watts/cm2 and a frequency of 15 khz to 50 Mhz to said liquid or slurry;
- (f) means for controlling temperature and pressure of said liquid or slurry in said containing means and said confining means.
- 3. An apparatus for treating liquid or slurry to reduce bacterial and spore contamination thereof comprising:
- (a) means for saturating liquid or slurry with a soluble gas or gaseous molecule;
- (b) means for pressurizing said saturated liquid or slurry wherein said means for pressurizing applies pressure between 2 TORR to 500 TORR to said liquid or slurry;
- (c) means for sonificating said saturated liquid or slurry at a predetermined intensity; and
- (d) means for controlling the temperature of said saturated liquid or slurry within a predetermined temperature range such that bacteriological and spore contamination of said liquid or slurry is reduced;
- 4. An apparatus for treating liquid or slurry to reduce bacterial and spore contamination thereof comprising:
- (a) means for saturating liquid or slurry with a soluble gas or gaseous molecule;
- (b) means for pressurizing said saturated liquid or slurry within a predetermined pressure range;
- (c) means for sonificating said saturated liquid or slurry wherein said means for sonificating applies an intensity of 3 watts/cm2 to 30,000 watts/cm2 and a frequency of 15 khz to 50 Mhz to said liquid or slurry;
- (d) means for controlling the temperature of said saturated liquid or slurry within a predetermined temperature range such that bacteriological and spore contamination of said liquid or slurry is reduced.
- 5. A method of treating a liquid or slurry to reduce bacteriological and spore contamination comprising the steps of:
- (a) saturating liquid or slurry with gas or gaseous molecules;
- (b) pressurizing liquid or slurry between 2 TORR and 500 TORR;
- (c) maintaining of temperature of liquid and slurry within a predetermined temperature range; and
- (d) sonificating liquid or slurry at a predetermined intensity, the combination of steps yielding a reduction in bacterial and spore contamination.
- 6. A method as defined in claim 5 wherein said temperature is maintained within a predetermined temperature range such that bacterial and spore contamination of said liquid or slurry is reduced.
- 7. A method of treating a liquid or slurry to reduce bacteriological and spore contamination comprising the steps of:
- (a) saturating liquid or slurry with gas or gaseous molecules;
- (b) pressurizing liquid or slurry within a predetermined pressure range;
- (c) maintaining of temperature of liquid and slurry within a predetermined temperature range; and
- (d) sonificating liquid or slurry at a predetermined intensity between 3 watts/cm2and 30,000 watts/cm2 and a frequency between 15 khz to 50 Mhz.
- 8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein said temperature is maintained within a predetermined temperature range such that bacterial and spore contamination of said liquid or slurry is reduced.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part application of pending application Ser. No. 07/548,492, filed on July 2, 1990.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
2585103 |
Fitzgerald |
Feb 1952 |
|
4708878 |
Hagelauer et al. |
Nov 1987 |
|
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
548492 |
Jul 1990 |
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