To provide a sterilizing liquid and a method of producing the same that have no restrictions on application methods and usage and can be widely used for sterilization, a sterilizing liquid including water containing reactive oxygen species and a nanoparticle catalyst in a stationary state is produced by causing cavitation in water having a conductivity of 2000 μS/cm or less and COD of 2000 ppm or less while causing the water to flow by a stirrer 2, and causing generation of plasma by a plasma generation mechanism 3 in which a pulse voltage is applied across electrodes 31 in the water including air bubbles mainly containing water vapor generated by the cavitation.

A novel solar-powered desalination and water purification system is disclosed herein. The system includes a nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel, an untreated water source, a water collection surface, and a purified water storage container. A novel photocatalytic nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel for desalination and photodegradation of contaminants for use in the disclosed system is also disclosed herein. The nanofiber-impregnated graphene aerogel exhibits excellent hydrophilicity, thermal insulation, and photodegradation capability, and allows for efficient solar-powered evaporation of water. The introduction of photocatalytic nanofibers into the graphene aerogel allows effective interfacial evaporation and in situ photodegradation of contaminants. The rate of water evaporation is preferably greater than 1.3 gal/ft.sup.2 per day, and the contaminant removal is preferably greater than 90%. A method of desalinating and purifying water using the disclosed system is also disclosed herein.

A wastewater treatment system includes two or more wastewater treatment reactors selected from an anoxic wastewater treatment reactor, a flex wastewater treatment reactor, and a hydroponic wastewater treatment reactor in fluid communication with and connecting a wastewater system inlet and a treated wastewater system outlet, each of the anoxic reactor, the flex reactor, or the hydroponic reactor including a reactor inlet for receiving wastewater to be treated and a reactor outlet directing treated wastewater from the anoxic reactor, the flex reactor, or the hydroponic reactor. The system also includes: (i) either but not both of the anoxic reactor or the flex reactor, (ii) a hydroponic reactor if the anoxic reactor is included, and (iii) at least two flex reactors if the hydroponic reactor is absent, and wherein at least one of the flex reactor or the hydroponic reactor includes an intermittent or pulsed aeration device and/or a submerged membrane or submerged root zone that achieves a natural gradient of oxidative states that is similar to oxidative states achieved using the intermittent or pulsed aeration device.

An apparatus and method for softening water are provided. The water softening system comprises a water softener apparatus comprising a tank designed to contain a resin bed and a water softener head coupled to the tank. The water softener head comprises at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a first channel in fluid communication with the first outlet, and a second channel in fluid communication with the first inlet. The water softening system includes at least one inlet water line for hard water and one outlet water line for softened water. A controller is provided and is configured to detect a first operating state of the water softening system, monitor the performance of the water softening system, and send instructions to at least one of the first valve and the second valve to change from a first operational state to a second operational state.

An ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) system that reduces atmospheric CO.sub.2 and mitigates ocean acidification by electrochemically processing feedstock solution (e.g., seawater or brine) to generate an alkalinity product that is then supplied to the ocean. The OAE system includes a base-generating device and a control circuit disposed within a modular system housing deployed near a salt feedstock. The base-generating device (e.g., a bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) system) generates a base substance that is then used to generate the ocean alkalinity product. The control circuit controls the base-generating device such that the alkalinity product is supplied to the ocean only when (1) sufficient low/zero-carbon electricity is available, (2) it is safe to operate the base-generating device, and (3) supplying the alkalinity product will not endanger sea life. Modified BPED systems include features that facilitate autonomous system operations including enhanced maintenance cycle operations and a reduced reliance on external fresh water sources.

A water delivery control system operates to selectively deliver water from a water source to water use devices. The system includes at least one controller that wirelessly communicates messages with a portable user device. The system includes a water control valve and a motor that is operative to selectively move at least one valve element of the valve. A water meter is operative to measure water flow that corresponds to flow through the valve. The controller is operable to cause the valve to enable or prevent flow through the valve responsive at least in part to water flow data. The controller is operative to determine a water use condition responsive to a water usage pattern, and to cause at least one message to be sent to the portable user device responsive to the determined water use condition.

A water treatment system includes a water inlet that intakes water to be treated, a high voltage (HV) electrode having a porous metal surface area in a range of between 0.1 cm.sup.2 and 5 cm.sup.2 in fluid communication with the water, such that the water flows through the porous metal surface area of the HV electrode, a ground electrode disposed across a gap from the HV electrode, in fluid communication with the water, a high voltage power supply electrically connected to the HV electrode for generating spark plasma or pulsed electric fields having a rise time equal to or less than 60 nanoseconds (ns) and an amplitude greater than or equal to 30 kV/cm across the gap, thereby producing treated water, and a water outlet that discharges the treated water.

A water quality monitoring system is provided, including several sensors, several actuators, and an embedded system. The sensors sense environmental parameters and separately output a plurality of sensing signals including the environmental parameters. The actuators change the environmental parameters. The embedded system includes a storage module, a data collection module, a data analysis module, and a control module. The storage module stores a plurality of normal parameter ranges that correspond to the respective environmental parameters. The data collection module is connected to the sensors for receiving the sensing signals. The data analysis module is connected to the storage module and the data collection module to determine whether the sensing signals are abnormal according to the normal parameter ranges and output a determination result. The control module is connected to the data analysis module to control the actuators or output a warning signal according to the determination result.

Methods and systems for generating a highly energized fluid formula for use in tempering grains and other foodstuffs is described. The temper fluid described herein is capable of reducing pathogens and/or pesticide residues on grains and other foodstuffs. The tempering fluid may include chlorine dioxide with an oxidative carrier solution, and may further include carboxylic acids. The methods described herein may include an alkaline fluid pre-rinse prior to treatment of the grain with the energized fluid formula.

An apparatus for treating water is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a feed tank for receiving water. The feed tank is coupled to a plurality of RF chambers. Each of the RF chambers comprises an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is coupled to a treated water effluent manifold. Further, each RF chamber is coupled to a vacuum manifold. Each RF chamber comprises a recirculation pipe to pump water back into the feed tank. The RF chamber comprises a RF system used for bombarding RF energy at predefined frequencies on the water passing in the chamber tubes in order to liberate chlorine isotope. Subsequently, the water is sent through the outlet to the treated water effluent manifold.