Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of contaminated air or surfaces in order to remove or oxidize odoriferous gases and deleterious compounds therefrom through the utilization of ozone droplets, and more particularly pertains to the treatment of manufacturing facilities, wet wells, seage installations, buildings, equipment and industrial installations and diverse locales subjected to foul air, in order to remove noxious and potentially toxic vapors and impurities from the air or surfaces through the dissolution of ozone in water to form droplets, and spraying the resultant mixture into the air as a fine aqueous mist. Moreover, the invention is also directed to the provision of a process for eliminating odoriferous or noxious vapor gases and harmful constituents entrained therein from a volume of contaminated air or surfaces through the utilization of ozone dissolved in water by the employment of the inventive treatment apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/574,444, filed on May 25, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of contaminated air or surfaces in order to remove or oxidize odoriferous gases and deleterious compounds therefrom through the utilization of ozone droplets, and more particularly pertains to the treatment of manufacturing facilities, wet wells, sewage installations, buildings, equipment and industrial installations and diverse locales subjected to foul air, in order to remove noxious and potentially toxic vapors and impurities from the air or surfaces through the dissolution of ozone in water to form droplets, and spraying the resultant mixture into the air as a fine aqueous mist. Moreover, the invention is also directed to the provision of a process for eliminating odoriferous or noxious vapors or gases and harmful constituents entrained therein from a volume of contaminated air or surfaces through the utilization of ozone dissolved in water by the employment of the inventive treatment apparatus. 
     The employment of ozone in connection with the use thereof in apparatus and processes for eliminating malodorous and oxidizable constituents from their presence in the air or on surfaces is imbued with various advantages, of which a primary advantage resides in the simplicity of the processes which are required and in the apparatus for implementing the processes. The only basic requirement is the provision of a substantially closed chamber or space which contains the air which is to be treated by means of an ozone generator, and also the elimination of any necessity for the installation of generally expensive filters which require periodic cleaning and replacement, and wherein a further advantage resides in that the products from the vapor which has been purified by the ozonation are generally constituted of carbon dioxide, water soluble sulfate and water which consist of harmless substances. These enclosed spaces or chambers may be lift stations of wet wells, manufacturing locales, scrubber ducts, contaminated buildings and equipment contained therein, among numerous other applications. 
     Although it is widely known to employ high concentration of ozone for the elimination of odors from air, the latter of which has been fouled by noxious constituents and/or malodorous gases or vapors, for example, such as hydrogen sulfide gas, or other sulfur-containing vaporous substrates, such as mercaptans, dimethylsulfate, and the like, the ozone must be generally evenly dispersed throughout the volume or space of the air being treated and specific concentrations of ozone maintained until the malodorous and noxious constituents entrained in the air have been oxidized, and in effect, odor-neutralized. Such high concentrations of ozone segregate by density such that ozone, being of greater density than air, settles to the bottom of the contained space, corroding the bottom equipment and absenting the upper reaches of the confined space, thereby not eliminating the light malodorous compounds in the top of the head space. 
     In order to overcome any disadvantages which are encountered in the odoriferous or noxious gas-removal treatment of air, by means of ozone in a preferably continuous mode, advantages may be taken by the ability of ozone being soluble in water, whereby the reaction of ozone with water forms various free radical moieties such as hydroxyl free radicals, superoxides and the like and peroxy radicals which, in turn, further reacts to form hydroperoxide free radical. These compositions comprising hydroperoxide and hydroxyl are strong oxidizers which will readily react with numerous impurities, including microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, and destroying these by oxidizing the latter and or interrupting their reproductive mechanisms, and wherein ozone is quite normally injected into municipal water supplies as a purifier and disinfectant. Furthermore, it is also important to use ozone in the treatment of lift stations in wet wells, such as those in wet sewage treatment plants, and also in industrial and commercial installations in which waste or polluted water emits odoriferous gases, not to mention constituents which are entrained in the gases such as bacteria and viruses, as well as pollutants encountered in scrubber ducts, contaminated buildings and other manufacturing and industrial installations, and surfaces thereof, and whereby the odors which are generated are extremely objectionable to persons in the immediate vicinity or environs of the particular installations or facilities being treated. In order to be able to eliminate or neutralize the noxious or odoriferous gases which are emitted from the various installations or wet wells, a process of spraying water containing dissolved ozone into the air in the form of sprays of very fine droplets is advantageous in eliminating these gases and impurities in the air in comparison with simply introducing a flow of ozone into the air. The reactions between the ozonated water sprays and gases or impurities contained in the air is extremely rapid, and serves to remove any concerns as to the ozone constituting a health hazard in the environment inasmuch as the ozone contained in the air is generally less than 0.5 parts per million, which is considered to be a permissible level when absorbed by humans. 
     Furthermore, the dispersing of a spray containing extremely fine droplets of water in which ozone into the air in order to remove odoriferous gases and contaminants is accomplished by causing gaseous ozone to come into contact with the water, and the absorption thereof depends upon the size of the contact surface between the gaseous ozone and water, which also increases the speed at which ozone is absorbed by water in proportion to the size of the contact area. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     The utilization of spray-forming nozzles which atomize ozone in water has been already well developed in the technology, and industry, whereby patents by the present inventors are of particular significance and advantage. Thus, Erb et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,962 discloses an atomizer device which reduces flowable liquid into an ultrafine dispersion of liquid particles in a propellant gas, and whereby an atomizing spray of ozone may be formed to treat odoriferous or noxious gases in order to remove any odorous properties and/or impurities therefrom. 
     A more recent development in providing an odor controlling atomizer nozzle device which employs ozone dispersed in water to form minutely sized droplets clearly provides the advantages of rapidly and extensively eliminating odoriferous gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, from the air which has been contaminated with these gases emanating in enclosed spaces from sources such as, for instance, wet wells or diverse locales, is disclosed in Resch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748. The disclosures of both of these patent publications are herewith incorporated in their entirety by reference into the present application. 
     Although the atomizing nozzle disclosed in Resch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748 clearly provides an advantageous structure when implementing a process of purifying air, the degree of being capable of removing odoriferous gases and potentially any pollutants in the air stream which are generated in enclosed spaces is generally at an efficacy of up to approximately 90%. Typically, municipal sewers which may include lift stations comprising wet wells may contain of up to 1,000 ppm of H 2 S (hydrogen sulfide) gases, although a more typical well may only contain about 50 ppm. These ozonated water spray treatments, although normally adequate in purifying the air in eliminating the odoriferous gases may not fully meet the requirements of more sophisticated customers or residents domiciled in the vicinity of such wet wells, since the high dosage levels of hydrogen sulfide gases generated in some of the wet wells may only be eliminated by up to a 90% reduction, and multiple atomizing nozzles of that type also fail to provide a reduction of the problems emanating from only a 90% improvement to targeted improvements of 99% to 100% in ideal situations. Consequently, a problem which is required to be solved in purification of air and removing odoriferous or noxious oxidizable gases therefrom, for example, such as those constituted of hydrogen sulfide gas or other sulfur-containing gases, or toxic nitrogen containing gases, such as NH 3 , is to facilitate a degree of purification of the air of up to 99% or 100%; and also to enable residual ozones to be exhausted to acceptable levels, and also to enable the use of industry acceptable measuring apparatus which will sense a true reduction in hydrogen sulfide or other sulfur-containing gases and contaminates contained in the air. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in order to improve upon the state-of-the-art, the present invention provides a process of oxidizing vapor-phase substrates such as air or various propellant gases with ozonated sprays through the use of an apparatus which, in conjunction with an atomizing nozzle as depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748 or of the type which functions similarly to the three fluid nozzle depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748, the latter of which is depicted herein by way of example only, creates a spray of small ozonated water particles adapted to react with contaminated air, containing, for example, oxidizable deleterious gases, for instance, gaseous sulfur-containing gases, such as for example hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), mercaptans, dimethyl sulfides or nitrogen containing gases, e.g., ammonia, and the like, in order to remove odoriferous gases and therein entrained particulate constituents and/or adjacent impurities, grease, bacteria and viruses from the air or surfaces which are contaminated to an extent which improves upon the level of approximately 90% purification or elimination thereof which is presently attainable in the technology. An extremely important aspect of the invention resides in the ability of the apparatus and process to be able to sanitize gas flows and gas-contacted surfaces passing through the ventilation system of contaminated buildings, as described in more specific detail hereinbelow. 
     In order to attain the foregoing, the present invention is directed to the provision of various types of apparatus incorporating versions of atomizer nozzle similar in function to that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748 in order to achieve almost ideal purification conditions, wherein particles of ozonated water are employed in sprays of optimized droplet sizes within a range of at or below about 3 microns, thus avoiding the presence of excessively large ozonated droplets which result in the formation of residual unreacted ozone and sulfur-containing gases. To that extent, the present invention also provides for apparatus structure which will remove such large droplets through the incorporation of a slotted vented tube. Moreover, a further aspect of the apparatus resides in a provision of a circulation inducing head which, in conjunction with the nozzle for atomizing ozone and water particles, will further provide for an induced vacuum and increased circulation in a turbulent manner so as to form the small sized wet particles of ozonated water which completely react with contaminants, such for example, sulfur-containing or nitrogen-containing gases in the air, for purifying the latter and eliminating unwanted impurities, gas-generated odors, grease, bacteria and viruses. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the purification of air containing odoriferous gas or of sanitizing contaminated surfaces and particulate impurities entrained therein or deposited thereon, such as grease, bacteria and viruses, through the intermediary of sprays of ozonated water droplets. 
     Another object resides in the provision of an apparatus which, in combination with an atomizer nozzle of U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748 or functioning in a manner similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748 or modifications thereof creates conditions which will enable the elimination of oxidizable gases, for instance, such as sulfur-containing or hydrogen sulfide gas, nitrogen-containing gas and the like, and therein entrained impurities from air in enclosed spaces and from surfaces so as to purify the air or sanitize the surfaces to an extent providing an almost total degree of purification thereto. 
     Another object resides in the provision of a process for oxidizing vapor phase substrates with low dose ozone through the formation of small sized wet particles of ozonated water droplets with the use of the inventive apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference may now be made to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the apparatus for the treatment of contaminated air and surfaces pursuant to the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a partially sectioned view of an atomizing nozzle for producing a spray of ozonated water droplets, wherein the nozzle is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,148 or functions in a manner similar to that as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748, wherein the nozzle is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the apparatus pursuant to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a generally diagrammatic sectional representation a modification of the atomizing nozzle shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings with the addition of a propulsion air, cross sectional area reducing means; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow circulation inducing head shown in a longitudinal axial sectional view for utilization in conjunction of the atomizing nozzle with either  FIG. 1  or  2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates generally diagrammatically, a representation of the arrangement of an embodiment of the apparatus as mounted on a cover plate of an enclosed gas-generating enclosed space; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates generally diagrammatically a condensing vent assembly which is utilized in conjunction with the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates, generally diagrammatically, an installation of an apparatus for purifying air or surfaces through ozonated water droplets utilizing a combination of the circulation inducing head and condensing vent assembly as represented in  FIGS. 3 and 5  of the drawings; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates, generally diagrammatically, a scenario of an underground wet well equipped with two embodiments of the air purification apparatus pursuant to the invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates, generally diagrammatically, a powered polishing vent unit which is adapted to be employed with an air or surface purification apparatus pursuant to the invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates, generally diagrammatically, the polishing vent unit of  FIG. 8  in conjunction with an air or surface purification apparatus pursuant to the invention; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a modification of the equipment of  FIG. 9  incorporating an ion activation device installed in the polishing vent unit; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top plan diagrammatic view of a polishing vent with ion activation as shown in  FIG. 10  employed in wet well treatment utilizing a two-nozzle system; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates, generally diagrammatically, an ion air scrubber utilized in industrial applications and incorporating an air purification apparatus pursuant to the invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates in, generally diagrammatically, a shallow well incorporating a multiple nozzle placement scenario wherein a plurality of nozzles directly impinge one another; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a sectioned view representation of a scenario of a portion of a wet well incorporating a plurality of nozzles employed in conjunction with embodiments of the inventive air purification apparatus and a polishing vent unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Basically, the air purification apparatus and the process for oxidizing vapor-phase substrate with low dose ozone pursuant to the invention; in effect, by creating small wet particles or droplets of ozonated water which will react with odoriferous gases in order to eliminate the noxious odors therefrom, while also removing therein entrained contaminates and particles including impurities such as grease particles, bacteria and viruses, and also being capable of sanitizing surfaces, utilizes the atomizing nozzle as disclosed in  FIG. 1 , or the modification thereof as disclosed in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an atomizer device  10  which is provided for the purification of air or surfaces in diverse locales by utilizing ozone contained in a fine liquid mist, wherein the nozzle device is as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,748, or functions in a manner similar to that as disclosed in commonly owned Resch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,748, which is described herein by way of example to an extent serving for a background explanation of the present invention. The atomizer device  10 , in which the components are represented in an exploded relationship, involves the utilization of a body member  12  having an internal passage or gas conduit  14  through which propellant gas, such as air or other mixtures, as described hereinbelow is constrained to flow. This internal passage  14  is configured to form a converging type nozzle  16  that accommodates the flow of air or some other gas able to properly serve as a propellant gas. The propellant gas  14  can be air obtained from any air supply source, or recirculated air from the treated space. For example, as described below, clean air is supplied to a nitrogen/oxygen generator  56  which forms a desired ratio of these elements. This nitrogen/oxygen mixture is than conveyed into an ozone generator  58  for admixture with ozone and further conveyance into gas conduit  32  as the oxidizing gas. 
     The gas conduit  14  has an outlet  20  passing through a pair of closely spaced smooth surfaces, first surface  36  and second surface  46 , and terminates adjacent the first surface  36 . The smooth surfaces  36  and  46  are disposed in a parallel relationship, with a very small spacing existing between the surfaces. 
     The first smooth surface  36  is disposed in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the gas outlet  20 , with an edge of the first surface  36  being disposed closely adjacent the propellant gas flowing through the gas outlet  20 . The circularly configured edge of the second smooth surface  46  is set back from the circularly configured edge of the first surface. 
     An ozone-supplying conduit  32  is centrally disposed within the gas outlet  20 , with the conduit  32  serving for the emitting of ozone at a desired location within the gas flowing through the gas outlet. 
     The foregoing atomizer device  10  is essentially a three fluid nozzle wherein the fluids are constituted of water, air (or other suitable propellant gas) and ozone made from a nitrogen/oxygen mixture so as to form a propellant velocity of preferably about 1,000 feet per second. Water is then added to the fluid stream through a circumferential annulus  54  around the streaming air wherein the latter pulls the water into a balloon until film fragments which are formed of water are of 0 to 3 to 5 to 7 micron size. Centrally located within the nozzle and extending into the zero pressure area thereof is a pipe delivering the ozone which dissolves in the film as it forms into droplets providing a preferable spray angle of about 7° wherein the cone of droplets substantially retains its integrity for a distance of about 11 feet, and thereafter the spray becomes amorphous. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings, there is provided a modified atomizing nozzle  60  wherein an air conduit  62 , shown in the form of an elbow  64 , supplies the nozzle with a flow of air analogous to that of  FIG. 1 , and an ozone supply tube  66  provides the ozone, while water is added through a conduit  68  in a manner analogous to that of the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment a plug  70  is provided in the airflow passageway  72  proximate the nozzle outlet or atomizing surface  74  at nozzle cap  76  so as to restrict the amount of airflow. This plug structure which shows the recirculating droplet nozzle and which can be installed in the ceiling of a wet well may also be enclosed in a suitable PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe cylinder. The employment of the plug  70  reduces the airflow volume by possibly up to two thirds and in a wet well this will increase the residence time, such increased residence time being important in order to allow for a more complete oxidation of the oxidizable substrate. 
     Although the air inlet duct or conduit  62  is shown in the form of an elbow  64  which is threadingly attached to the atomizing nozzle  60 , it may possess an elongated cylindrical component so as to enable atomizing the nozzle  60  to be positioned deeply in recesses within the space of a wet well above its water level. In this connection, by way of background material, wet wells which are also referred to as lift stations are locations in which sewage is lifted from a lower elevation to a higher elevation, and in the presence of, for example, any sulfate ion present therein, is reduced by sulfate reducing material into hydrogen sulfide gas (H 2 S), which is an odoriferous and noxious gas. These gases accumulate in the closed head space in wet wells above the water level eventually seeping out and fouling the atmosphere, whereby these gases are to be eliminated or removed from the air by means of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, there is provided a circulation inducing head  80  constituted of a pipe cylinder  82  having an open discharge end  84 . One or more apertures  86  are drilled through the side wall of the cylinder, preferably two apertures opposite each other so as to permit recirculating ozonated water droplets to enter the interior of the cylinder. The cylinder  82  is of a sufficient length to allow the discharged cone of spray from nozzle  10  or  60  which is attached thereto at the other cylinder end  86  to facilitate the cone formed by the spray emitted from the atomizing nozzle to intersect the inside diameter of the cylinder and resultingly create a vacuum producing a venturi effect interiorly of the cylinder  82 . This vacuum will draw small droplets of 0 to 3 microns in size of ozonated water back into the cylinder  82 , and upon these slowly moving droplets being impinged upon by fast moving droplets presently produced by the nozzle, the number of the 0 to 3 micron sized droplet effectively substantially doubles and thereby substantially doubles the surface area of reactive droplets; increasing the mass transfer of agents in the air from the gas phase to a droplet phase and thereby removing further particulate, matter and odors which are absorbed from the malodorous sulfur-containing gas into the ozonated water droplets. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, this shows the arrangement of a nozzle  60  pursuant to  FIG. 2  mounted on a slab  90  which covers a wet well or any other enclosed space (not shown), and with the circulation inducing head so extending angled downwardly from a connecting angle piece  92  which is connected to the lower end of a pipe  94 . Ozonated water droplets are sprayed from the open lower end  84  of the circulation inducing bead  80  into the air above the water level of the wet well, thereby eliminating or purifying odoriferous gases, such as hydrogen sulfide gas or other noxious gases having contaminants contained therein. As represented in  FIG. 4  this shows the nozzle  60  of  FIG. 2  mounted on the slab  90  covering the wet well and having the inlet connections for the ozone, air and water provided thereon, although it is also contemplateable that the nozzle may be mounted further downwardly at the upper end of the circulation inducing head  80 , as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, whereby an atomizing nozzle  10 , such as the nozzle as illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings or a similar nozzle thereto may be employed in an alternative arrangement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  of the drawings illustrated is a slotted condensing vent assembly  100  performing a condensing function in connection with the treatment apparatus. The assembly  100  comprises a perforated tube  102  in which the droplet-enriched air flow is adapted pass through a series of thin slots  104  formed along the length thereof into the interior space of the vent tube. Large droplets coalesce in the slots and drip down mostly on the tubular outside surface of the vent and to a lesser extent along the interior surface of the vent tube. Although the large droplets do not propagate a free radical chain reaction in order to admix the ozone with the water and to small size droplets, the large droplets do carry the contaminant gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, and the like, and the ozone into the wet well, where these large droplets are then recycled, thereby reducing the residual load in an exhaust stream. At a lower end, the vent tube  102  has a closure cap  106  with a drain hole  108  therein; whereas at an upper end the vent tube is equipped with an apertured exhaust conduit  110  having a cap  112 . The exhaust conduit extends above a cover plate or slab  114  for an enclosed space, for example, a wet well. 
     The size of the transverse slots  104  extending spaced along the vertical elevation or length of the condensing vent tube assembly may each be approximately 0.02 inches in width, although other widths may also be applicable to permit wet particle-laden air to pass through the slots to provide condensating of the liquefied material, such as water, along the surfaces thereof. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, this shows the apparatus  150  assembled in an installation with the combination of the slotted vent structure  100  of  FIG. 5  and the circulation inducing head  80  attached to the open lower end of the former. Hereby, the slotted vent tube  102  extends upwardly through an opening in a slab  120  covering a wet well or any enclosed space and the like, and wherein there is an upper exhaust pipe section  122  communicating through an elbow connection  124  with the interior of the vent tube. Fastened to the lower end of the slotted vent tube  102  is the circulation inducing head  80  which, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, is equipped with an atomizing nozzle  10  or  60 . A supply arrangement  126  for supplying the required ozonating droplet-forming constituents, such as a flow of air, water and ozone, is connected to the upper end of the projecting portion of the slotted tube. The functioning of the apparatus produces a turbulent and circulating flow through the slotted tube  102 , and through the vacuum forward in the flow circulation inducing head  80  in a manner as described hereinabove produces the flow of the small droplets for absorbing the contaminant gases, e.g., the odoriferous hydrogen sulfide gas or other similar gases. In the lower section of the vent tube  102  there is mounted the nozzle from which an expanding spray cone just intersects the interior wall of the concentric pipe or circulation inducing member  80 , thereby creating a vacuum or a venturi effect drawing the small droplets of ozonated water back into this vacuum environment and then causing it to be recirculated so as to further propagate the absorption of the odoriferous hydrogen sulfide gas or other contaminant gas and the removal of entrained contaminants, thereby resultingly purifying and deodorizing the air above the water level of the wet well or of the enclosed space or chamber containing waste water or liquid sewage. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, this shows a typical scenario of a section of an underground wet well  130  wherein a suitable slab  132  having a hatch covers the wet well, as is well known in the sewage treatment technology and in which a liquid level flow switches  134 ,  136  control the level of sewage water  138  in the well supplied through a sewer pipe  140  by means of a suitable sewage pump  142  which is connected to an outlet pipe  144 . 
     Arranged proximate one corner wall structure of the wet well  130  and extending downwardly through an aperture  146  formed in the slab  132  is an arrangement of a treatment apparatus  150  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, whereas at some distance therefrom is a further arrangement of a treatment apparatus with the nozzle arrangement  60  as shown in FIG.  4  of the drawings. In that instance, the nozzle  60  is illustrated as being oriented at an angle of approximately 45° from the vertical; however, it may be directed either vertically down or horizontally and/or in any radial orientation about the circumference thereof. This dual arrangement will provide for a highly efficient purification of the enclosed air space above the water level of the liquid in the wet well. Thus, the ceilings formed by the covering concrete slab and the walls and the water surface in the corners, in which proximity the apparatus and above-mentioned nozzles are positioned, defines a six-sided reaction space possessing two sides which move out and in depending upon the fluctuations in the level of the sewage water. This reaction space defines a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Thus, by means of the arrangement as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, particularly if the vent is exhausted by means of a fan (not shown) a spiral motion of the circulating media is formed interiorly of the slotted vent tube  102  and induces a counterclockwise flow circulation in the CSTR. This motion, in essence, increases the efficiency of the mass transfer in the CSTR thereby providing an increase in efficiency in the removal of the hydrogen sulfide or sulfur-containing gas and in the purification of the air. 
     An advantage which is derived in this treatment wet wells vehicles is that the use of the nitrogen/oxygen mixture and the ozonated water droplets have an effect on non-gas phase grease which is deposited on the walls of the wet wells or on walls of buildings or on equipment. The process essentially dissolves the solid-state grease. Without wishing to be bound, it is believed that the application of the present process to grease makes it water soluble. Without wishing to be bound, it is believed that the grease is converted into a water-soluble fatty acid which is carried off with sewage liquid or waste water from the wet well. Continued treatment prevents the grease from reforming. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  of the drawings, there is illustrated a tubular coiled ducting  160  having a powered polishing vent which creates a turbulent flow of incoming air and with a vacuum adjustment device  162  being provided proximate an outlet  164  connected to an exhaust conduit  166  which, may in turn, be connected to a suitable exhaust fan (not shown) for drawing the air in at an inlet opening  168 , and creating a turbulent flow condition. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, the polishing vent  160  provided for by the coiled duct producing the turbulent air flow may be mounted on a slab  170  above a wet well or any suitable enclosed space containing waste water beneath contaminated air or surfaces with hydrogen sulfide gases or other contaminant gases entrained therein. A slotted vent tube  102  and circulation inducing head  80  with nozzle  10  or  60 , as in  FIG. 6 , extend downwardly and at the upper end are connected to a three hole adjustable suction damper or check valve  172  (as applicable) and to an inlet unit  174  for the three way nozzle  10  or  60  by supplying the nozzle which may be positioned in the circulation inducing head  80  with ozone, a flow of water and air. The damper or check valve  172  will assure an adequate airflow through the apparatus. The outlet end of the coiled duct of the polishing vent  160  may be optionally equipped with an adjustable vacuum flow limiter  176  to control the volume of airflow. 
     As the droplets and the entire flow is drawn upwardly through the coiled tubular scrubber, the turbulence will create an adequate air volume which flows through the plug flow apparatus so as to mix the droplets of ozonated water into the air space above the liquid in the wet well or the enclosed space below the slab. 
     In a modification of the apparatus in  FIG. 10  of the drawings, which is substantially similar to that shown in  FIG. 9 , in that instance there is no fog provided in the vented space of the coiled tubular polishing vent  160 , and ion activation means  180  is activated so as to remove or control any malodor, microorganism or grease entrained therein. This embodiment of the inventive apparatus has particularly important and advantageous functions in the process of treatment and sanitizing of contaminated buildings and rooms. Hereby, the vent structure  160 , as also illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  of the drawings, may comprise the duct work throughout a single-story or multi-story or skyscraper building, such duct-work possibly being a component of an air conditioning and/or heating and/or ventilating system. Hereby, small ozonated water droplets can be disposed throughout the contaminated building in the duct work, thereby facilitating the elimination of fungi, bacteria, virus, mold and other microorganisms that are harmful to humans, and which are involved in causing or cause various diseases, such as colds, Legionnaire&#39;s Disease and the like, and other malodors and contaminants. Without wishing to be bound, it is believed that the ozone containing water droplets formed in accordance with the present invention or interfere with the reproductive cycle of these harmful microorganisms. This can be readily accomplished with continuously supplying very low doses since the nitrogen/oxygen mixture which is employed allows for very low ozone dosages to be available for lengthy contact times. 
     The foregoing can be similarly used in decontaminating waste water, scrubber ducts, wherein vent apparatus  160  represents a series of branched ducting. The small droplets are drawn through an inlet branch duct into a main duct and then into a scrubber, thereby decontaminating all of the duct work in a highly efficient manner. 
     In  FIG. 11  there is illustrated a top plan view of another combination of an apparatus  190 , which looks down on a slotted vent recirculating dual nozzle arrangement as shown in the previous embodiment of  FIG. 6  with a second recirculation inducing nozzle aligned with fluid flow and a plug flow reactor. This type of arrangement showing a closed circuit with the combined nozzle units particularly useful for scrubber applications in industrial installations. Hereby, the downwardly oriented nozzle arrangement  200  is directed into the head space above the liquid or odoriferous gas generating media, whereas the horizontally oriented nozzle arrangement  202  is aimed into a scrubber duct  204  which is aligned with the fluid flow. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12  of the drawings, in that instance there is shown a vertical ion scrubber  210  wherein the contaminated or fouled air is pulled into a large closed chamber  212  with the slotted vent tube  102  and circulation inducing head  80  having an atomizer nozzle  10  or  60  therein, as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, extending downwardly into the closed chamber. This arrangement has the air pulled out from the large closed chamber  212  and into a plug flow apparatus  214  containing a second spray nozzle  10  or  60  spraying into the plug flow reactor. Air is pulled through the entire apparatus through an exhaust fan  216  so as to cause the ozonated water droplets to intermingle with the air and to treat sulfur-containing gases and contaminates which are contained in the air of the enclosed space. This particular type of configuration is utilized with very small wet wells which do not permit sufficient volume to permit an even distribution of the ozone laden water droplets in the head space above the sewage or contaminated water level. For the remainder the functioning and process is identical or similar to that described in the preceding installations of  FIG. 9  or  10 . 
     As represented in  FIG. 13  of the drawings, this illustrates a shallow wet well  220  wherein a turbulent air flow area  222  is formed above a sewage water level  224  and in which a pair of three-fluid atomizing nozzle arrangements  10  or  60  which may be similar of those represented in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings are mounted in the space and oriented in a horizontal manner aimed to spray towards each other such that the droplets from each nozzle impinge on each other before the spray pattern becomes amorphous. As a result of said impinging droplets, the efficiency of impinging sprays is greater than the effect of the same number of nozzles when they do not impinge. Hereby, the conicity of the spray emanating from each of the nozzles and the distance between the mutually facing nozzles, as described hereinbefore is of significance. The direct impingement of the generated droplets from each nozzle against the other results that in the cone integrity distance is such as to effect a droplet oscillation inducing impingement of the droplets from both nozzles. This dual nozzle arrangement covers the area above the sewage water level with the spray of ozonated water particles or droplets to produce a generally complete purification of the air and removal of odoriferous gases and entrained impurities. A vent  226  may be provided, and which may extend to as to be connected to a suitable polishing scrubber (not shown), for example, of the type as is disclosed in either  FIGS. 9 and 10  of the drawings. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14  of the drawings, there is illustrated a further scenario of a wet well  230  showing a two nozzle apparatus arrangement in which a scrubber may be attached to one of the nozzle apparatus, and to a vented tube condenser and a circulation inducing unit as illustrated in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, and with a further nozzle structure being provided to extend into the turbulent air region above the water level of the sewage water, wherein the further nozzle apparatus may be such as is described in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, and may be oriented in any suitable manner relative to the vertical, horizontal or circumferential directions. 
     Finally, it is to be noted that the process of implementing the oxidizing of the sulfur-containing gases is highly corrosive in nature so as to necessitate that the components of the apparatus be constituted of corrosion-resistant materials. Such materials, among others, may be fiberglass, polyvinylchloride (PVC), or high-quality stainless steel. 
     Although the above embodiments illustrate ozone as the feed gas passing through the gas conduit  32  of the nozzle in  FIG. 1 , other feed gases may be utilized as can other droplet formation means. For example, referring to  FIG. 1 , in another embodiment, the feed gas is a gas prepared by passing a specific gaseous mixture comprised of oxygen and nitrogen through an ozone generator ( 58 ). The specified mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gas is prepared by a nitrogen-oxygen generator ( 56 ) of any suitable type as is known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the mixture is prepared by removing a specified amount of nitrogen from the air using techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It is preferred that the volume ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the mixture ranges from about 21% oxygen:78% nitrogen, as found in air to about 99% oxygen:1% nitrogen. However, it is more preferred that the mixture comprises at least about 95% oxygen and 5% nitrogen. It is even more preferred that the ratio ranges from about 93% oxygen:7% nitrogen to about 95% oxygen:5% nitrogen, and most preferably the ratio is about 90% oxygen:10% nitrogen. (All of the % of gases are understood to be by volume). 
     The reaction of the mixture described hereinabove with ozone, especially at a ratio of 90% oxygen:10% nitrogen, provides a longer lasting ozone. The half life of ozone in clear water is about 15 minutes, but when the oxygen content was increased, especially to a mixture of 90% oxygen and 10% nitrogen, measured amounts of ozone were found in the condensate 24 hours after the ozone was generated. Without wishing to be bound, it is believed that the mixture of nitrogen and oxygen form a nitric oxide, which when reacted with ozone forms, a nitrogen oxide moiety with more solubility in water than ozone alone. Without wishing to be bound, it is further believed that the reaction of nitric oxide with ozone forms a NO 3 . radical which eventually breaks down into ozone over time, thereby prolonging the existence of ozone in the condensate.