The present invention relates to the reduction of materials at low temperatures (<600° C.) by means of microwave radiation without needing to use chemical reducing agents or electrical contacts. It relates more specifically to a method for reducing a material, which comprises the following steps: applying microwave radiation to a material disposed in a microwave application cavity; and separating simultaneously the fluid oxidation products generated from the reduced material,
such that the method is carried out without chemical reducing agents or electrical contacts.

Disclosed is a treatment reactor for treating a continuously flowing liquid, comprising: an inlet for receiving liquid to be treated; and an outlet for outputting the treated liquid, whereby the liquid flows from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the reactor comprises an electrolysis unit arranged to subject the flowing liquid to electrolysis, and a microwave unit arranged to subject the flowing liquid to a microwave field.

A system includes a first separator configured to receive waste water, retain a first portion of the waste water, and separate the first portion of the waste water into a first vapor and a first solid material; and a second separator in fluid communication with the first separator, the second separator being configured to receive a second portion of the waste water from the first separator and to separate the second portion of the waste water into a second vapor and a second solid material, the second separator including a first condenser, a heating element, and a first electrocoagulation unit. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Methods of treating a fluid mixture include performing a first treatment on the mixture with electrochemically produced ions to separate an aqueous phase and a hydrophobic phase and performing a second electrochemical treatment on the separated aqueous phase to thereby remove aqueous contaminants from the aqueous phase wherein substantially laminar flow of fluid occurs between electrodes in the second electrochemical treatment.

A water treatment unit includes a unit housing having an electrocoagulation chamber for containing water being treated; a replaceable electrocoagulation cartridge removably retained within the electrocoagulation chamber and having several electrically conductive electrocoagulation plates; a unit control mechanism, and a unit electric circuit electrically connected to the unit control mechanism and adapted to be electrically connected to an electric power source, where the unit electric circuit includes metal strips configured to extend through the water being treated between the replaceable electrocoagulation cartridge and a wall of the electrocoagulation chamber to electrically connect at least one of the electrically conductive electrocoagulation plates to the electric power source when the replaceable electrocoagulation cartridge is retained within the electrocoagulation chamber. In the unit, as the replaceable electrocoagulation cartridge is inserted into the electrocoagulation chamber the metal strips are adapted to complete the unit electric circuit within the water being treated.

A system is provided that utilizes electromagnetic energy for bacteria elimination from cooling systems, such as water cooling tower systems that are used to cool down a heat exchanger in oil industry and it can be also extended to be used in the bacteria removal associated to crude oil.

Methods for treating water comprising dissolved solids in a wellbore include injecting water into a wellbore, where the wellbore has a depth that is sufficient for introducing a hydrostatic pressure that imparts supercritical pressure to water present at a water depth greater than or equal to the minimum depth needed to impart water supercritical pressure. A heating element is inserted into the wellbore to a heating element depth that is greater than or equal to the required depth. Power is transmitted to the heating element causing the heating element to heat water to a temperature sufficient to form supercritical water that causes the dissolved solids to precipitate out of the water as precipitated solids. Water and the precipitated solids are separated and extracted. The heating element includes a microwave antenna and a shell encapsulating the microwave antenna formed from a material that is capable of heating upon exposure to microwave radiation.

A substance treatment apparatus includes an RF signal source, power detection circuitry, a controller, and a transmission path between the RF signal source and a first electrode that radiates electromagnetic energy into a chamber. The RF signal source includes a solid-state amplifier that generates an RF signal. The power detection circuitry detects reflected signal power along the transmission path. Based on the reflected signal power, the controller modifies values of variable components within an impedance matching network electrically coupled along the transmission path to adjust a magnitude of the reflected signal power. The impedance matching network may have a double-ended input connected to a balun, and a double-ended output connected to the first electrode and to a second electrode. Alternatively, the impedance matching network may have a single-ended input connected to the RF signal source, and a single-ended output connected to the first electrode. The second electrode may be grounded.

A water treatment system including a filter compartment having a filter material adapted for removing at least one of neutrons and alpha particles from water. The filter material may comprise at least one of paraffin, cadmium, and bismuth. The filter compartment can also have a second filter material adapted for removing at least one of chloride ions and transmuted chlorine ions from the water. The second filter material may comprise at least one of coconut carbon, silicon dioxide, and ionized sand. The system can further include a container downstream of the filter compartment, the container having paraffin therein. Additionally, the system can include an absorptive manifold designed for absorbing hydrogen ions and reducing the pH of the water. A method for treating contaminated water using the water treatment system is also provided.

A groundwater remediation system includes a capillary media supported and positioned such that it is partially submerged into a groundwater source to be remediated. Groundwater is drawn into the submerged portion of the capillary media and further into the non-submerged portion of the capillary material via natural capillary action. As the water evaporates from the non-submerged portion of the capillary media, the dissolved solids within the water precipitate onto the media leaving the precipitated solids for reclamation or disposal and allowing the cleaned water vapor to disperse into the ambient air. In some embodiments, heat may be added to the media, water, or air to accelerate the evaporative process.