Patent Publication Number: US-2011068006-A1

Title: Apparatus and Method for Treatment of Wastewater

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation application of International Application PCT/IL2009/000547 filed on Jun. 2, 2009, which in turn claims priority to U.S. Provisional application 61/057,893 filed on Jun. 2, 2008, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a technique for the treatment of contaminated wastewater, and more particularly to a system and method for the treatment of wastewater with complex organic contamination. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A significant amount of research and development has been undertaken in recent years towards environmental clean-up operations, and in particular to the purification of groundwater and treatment of wastewater containing suspended solids and emulsified and dissolved impurities of different natures. A variety of techniques have been used in the prior art to destroy and/or remove from wastewater various contaminating and toxic materials, such as oil and oil products, heavy metals, organic substances, detergents, suspended solids, emulsions, substances which produce color, taste and odor, and harmful suspended materials. 
     A technique is known in the art, usually under the name “electro-hydraulics”, which utilizes high-energy electrical discharge into a volume of liquid for the purpose of disinfecting water, changing chemical constituents and recovering metals and other substances from liquids or slurries (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,366,564 to Allen; 3,402,120 to Allen et al.; and 4,957,606 to Juvan). According to this technique, an electro-hydraulic shock wave within the liquid, intensive light radiation and thermo-chemical reactions are initiated by arc discharge into a spark gap formed by the electrodes immersed in the liquid. One of the drawbacks of this technique is associated with the fact that in the repeated discharging of a high-energy electrical arc across the gap between electrodes, the electrodes are rather rapidly eroded and burned up. 
     A hydro-pneumatic method and system for cleaning wastewater from dissolved organic compounds by electric discharges created by applying electric current to a vessel with forced motion of conducting elements filling the vessel is disclosed in Soviet Union (SU) Inventor&#39;s Description No. 394324 and in Certificate of Invention SU1583363. 
     For example, Inventor&#39;s Description No. 394324 discloses an apparatus including a cylindrical metallic vessel having perforated walls and a cover, and that operates as a first electrode. A second electrode in the form of a rod or concentric pipe passes through the cover within the inner volume of the vessel. The vessel is filled with conducting elements. The apparatus includes a mixing chamber mounted under the vessel. The mixing chamber is equipped with an inlet pipe providing an inlet flow of wastewater and pressurized air. A second chamber is equipped with an outlet pipe for the clean water, and is located at a top portion of the vessel. Aluminum foil particles of diameter between 3 and 5 mm are used as conducting elements. Permanent motion of the conducting elements within the volume of the vessel is attained by the inflow of the wastewater mixed together with pressurized air from the mixture chamber into the vessel through the perforations of the bottom of the vessel. The electric current applied to the electrodes is of the type that is usually used for welding. For example, consumption of electric energy of 10 to 12 kWh enables decomposition of 95%-98% of the organic matter in one cubic meter of wastewater contaminated to BOD level of about 50,000 mg/l. 
     One drawback of the apparatuses described above is associated with the use of aluminum foil particles having low specific gravity as conducting elements, which are employed owing to the desire to minimize the hydro-pneumatic energy needed to maintain motion of the elements. However, the aluminum foil particles tend to stick to each other and to form larger structures when the “welding” electric current is applied. These structures cannot break into smaller parts under the stream of water and pressurized air. As a result, the process of micro electric discharges is adversely influenced with growing risk of obtaining current shortcuts and a complete destruction of the apparatus. 
     In turn, when conducting elements with lower heat conductivity and higher specific weight are used, higher hydro-pneumatic energy is required to maintain the conducting elements in motion. Accordingly, the larger the hydro-pneumatic energy, the higher the flow rate of the wastewater, i.e., the treated wastewater is within the zone of electric discharge for a shorter time. As a result, effectiveness of the process is significantly lower. 
     Moreover, in order to obtain a stable formation of micro electric discharge, essential for an effective cleaning process of wastewater, a uniform continuous motion of the conducting elements is needed. To obtain such a motion, the parameters related to the hydro-pneumatic stream (e.g., the relationship between the rates of the wastewater and pressurized air in the hydro-pneumatic stream, the pressure and the velocity of the incoming stream, etc.) must be strictly controlled and regulated. Such regulation is extremely difficult to carry out, and therefore it is not practical in an industrial environment. Moreover, the size of the conducting particles, which plays an important role in determining the parameters of the hydro-pneumatic stream, can change over time, as ions of the particle&#39;s material are passed into the water. 
     GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Despite the existing prior art in the area of water decontamination techniques, there is still a need in the art for, and it would be useful to have, a novel apparatus and method for treatment of wastewater to rid it from suspended contaminating components, such as oil products dissolved in water, phenols, organic dyes, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, organic acids, biological particles and other organic elements. 
     It would be advantageous to eliminate the adverse dependence of the hydro-pneumatic method on the hydro-pneumatic stream formed by the flows of wastewater and air, and thereby increase the effectiveness of the treatment process of the prior art systems. 
     It would also be advantageous to have operation of the apparatus independent of the rate of the flow of the treated wastewater that enables more effective management of the process of micro electric discharge between the conducting elements. 
     It would also be advantageous to enable the use of conducting elements made of a variety of materials in a variety of geometric forms. In the present description, the terms “conducting elements” and “conducting particles” are used interchangeably. 
     The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need by providing a novel apparatus and method for separation of treated water from wastewater. The term “wastewater” is broadly used herein to describe any water-based fluid containing one or more contaminating organic components. Examples of the wastewater that can be treated by using the technique of the present invention include, but are not limited to, industrial effluent, municipal sewage, recycled water, landfill leachate, and combinations thereof. Examples of contaminating components that can be in the wastewater include, but are not limited to, oil products dissolved in water, phenols, organic dyes, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, organic acids, biological particles and other organic elements. 
     Generally, the treatment of wastewater for ridding (i.e., cleaning) from dissolved organic matter is carried out by passing wastewater through agitated conducting elements located between stationary electrodes of a treatment apparatus to which an electric current is applied. The desired agitation is mainly achieved by mechanical agitation of the conducting particles by an electrically powered mixer. Such mechanical agitation is additionally accompanied by pneumatic agitation formed by a stream of pressurized gas that enhances a uniform character of the agitation provided by the mechanical mixing. An example of a gas suitable for the purpose of the present invention includes, but is not limited to compressed atmospheric air. 
     While the conductive elements move owing to the agitation caused by a mechanical mixer together with pressurized gas, they can be in contact with each other. The controllable agitation can provide a horizontal and vertical movement of the conductive elements and prevent sticking of the particles together and aggregation of large clusters. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, a difference in electric potential is developed between the adjacent dispersed conductive elements, and an electric discharge with a momentary electric arc between the particles is generated. 
     In operation, electric discharges with arcs can take place substantially all over the volume of the wastewater passing through the apparatus between the electrodes. Forming the arcs between the conducting elements can result in the formation of ozone, ultraviolet radiation, regions of micro-impulses of heat, pressure, cavitation and other phenomena. The presence of these phenomena in a relatively large volume of liquid provides more effective decomposition of organic compounds. 
     Thus, in accordance with one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for treating wastewater containing at least one contaminating component. The apparatus includes an entry mixing chamber, a housing, and a collecting chamber. 
     The entry mixing chamber has tubular chamber walls attached to a chamber bottom and an open mixing chamber top. The tubular chamber walls are equipped with a wastewater inlet port configured for receiving the wastewater and a gas inlet port configured for receiving pressurized gas. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the entry mixing chamber is configured to operate as a cyclone mixer. 
     The housing has housing walls, an open housing top, and a perforated housing bottom. The housing walls are attached to the open top of the entry mixing chamber to provide hydraulic communication between the entry mixing chamber and the housing. 
     The collecting chamber is mounted on the open housing top to provide hydraulic communication between the collecting chamber and the housing. The collecting chamber has a wastewater outlet port for discharge of the treated wastewater. The collecting chamber can have a gas outlet port for release of the pressurized gas. 
     The apparatus further includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged within the housing and coupled to a voltage power supply, and a conductive particulate material placed between the first and second electrodes and partially filling a space between the electrodes. Examples of the conductive particulate material include, but are not limited to, graphite, titanium, aluminum, iron, stainless steel and a combination thereof. A dimension of particles of the conductive particulate material can, for example, be in the range of about 3 to about 5 millimeters. The conducting particles can have a variety of geometric shapes. It should be noted that conductive particulate material can be chosen by taking into account the possibility of using its ions for coagulation of the products of the decomposition of the contaminating organic compounds. 
     The apparatus also includes an electrically powered mixer configured to provide mechanical agitation. The electrically powered mixer includes an axle equipped with one or more whirling blades. The axle passes through the housing such that the whirling blades are located within the conductive particulate material. The electrically powered mixer comprises an electric driver configured for rotating the axle. The operation of the mixer may result in the increase of the “effective volume” of the conducting particles by about 8%-22%, as compared to the non-moving particles. The effective volume here is the volume where the electric discharges between the particles are formed. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing has an electrically conductive inner surface that operates as the first electrode. The second electrode includes a pipe arranged within the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing. The axle passes through a cavity of the pipe. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first and second electrodes can be grid electrodes. The first electrode can include a conductive perforated plate arranged near the housing bottom perpendicular to the housing walls. The second electrode can include a conductive perforated plate arranged in a parallel relationship with the conductive perforated plate of the first electrode. The housing can be made of a dielectric material. A cross-sectional dimension of holes in the conductive perforated plates of the first and second electrodes is less than a dimension of particles of the conductive particulate material. This feature prevents penetration of the agitated particles of the conductive particulate material into the holes of the perforated plates and flushing the particulate material from the housing together with the wastewater. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrically powered mixer includes a plurality of whirling blades arranged on the axle along its longitudinal axis. A distribution of the whirling blades along the axle and distance between them can be varied to establish an optimal mixing condition. Likewise, a broad variety of profile blades in the mechanical mixer can be used. The whirling blades can, for example, be arranged at angles in the range of about 30° to 60° with respect to the plane of rotation. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the wastewater inlet port can be coupled to an inlet manifold equipped with a controllable inlet valve configured for regulating a flow rate of ingress of wastewater. The wastewater outlet port can be coupled to an outlet manifold equipped with a controllable outlet valve configured for regulating a flow rate of egress of the treated wastewater. 
     According to another general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating industrial wastewater. The method includes providing an apparatus described above. A controllable ingress flow of the wastewater is fed into the entry mixing chamber through the wastewater inlet port. Simultaneously with the wastewater, a controllable ingress flow of the pressurized gas is fed into the entry mixing chamber through the gas inlet port. The electrically powered mixer is activated to provide controllable agitation of particles of the conductive particulate material. The axle of the mixer can, for example, be rotated at a speed in the range of about 50 to about 1000 revolutions per minute. 
     Moreover, a predetermined electric voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes. A power supply of direct or alternate current may be used. For example, the predetermined electric voltage can be in the range of about 10V (volts) to 40V in order to maintain the electric current in the range of about 50A (amperes) to 500A. 
     After treatment, the treated wastewater can be discharged from the housing through the wastewater outlet port. 
     When desired, the wastewater from the outlet port can be supplied downwardly to a separator for separation of sludge from water. The separator can include one or more filters or other known separating devices configured for filtering the treated wastewater for separation of the cleaned water from the sludge. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention have many of the advantages of the techniques mentioned theretofore, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention can be applied both for decomposition of organic industrial contaminating components and for disinfection of wastewater. 
     Since agitation of the particles in the apparatus of the present invention does not only rely on the stream formed by the flows of the wastewater and gas, but also includes the mechanical agitation of the conducting particles by a mechanical mixer, contrary to the known hydro-pneumatic technique, the time during which the treated wastewater is in contact with the micro electric discharge zone is not limited by the hydro-pneumatic parameters of the stream. Accordingly, the treatment can be maintained as long as required, and the treatment time can be varied to obtain optimal conditions of cleaning and energy consumption. 
     Accordingly, the replacing of the pure hydro-pneumatic method for maintaining continuous and stable motion of the conducting particles by combined mechanical and hydro-pneumatic agitation, enables the use of conducting elements made of a variety of materials being in a variety of geometric forms. Indeed, since mechanical mixing is also used, there is no dependency between the specific gravity of the conducting elements and the formation process of micro electric discharge. As a result, a variety of conducting materials can be used for producing the conducting particles, such as graphite, titanium, aluminum, iron, stainless steel etc. Aluminum foils, in particular, can also be used, since mechanical mixing can break the aluminum foil clusters formed during the micro electric discharge. 
     When iron or aluminum particles are used as conducting elements, ions of iron or aluminum, which enter the water during the micro electric discharges, may be used for coagulation of some of the products of decomposition of the organic compounds, thus providing an additional mechanism for removing dissolved organic matter from the wastewater. 
     Further, the method and apparatus of the present invention allow increasing the flow rate of the wastewater through the apparatus, thereby enhancing the overall process of fluid purification. The mechanical mixing used in the apparatus eliminates the link between the rate of the ingress wastewater flow and the process of micro electric discharge. This rate can therefore be modified for optimal treatment results, namely the required level of decomposition of organic compounds with minimal energy consumption. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention are highly economical and operate with minimal losses of energy and chemicals. For the consumption of electric energy, for example, in the range of about 10-12 kWh per one cubic meter of treated wastewater, the concentration of organic compounds (in wastewater with BOD in the range of about 20,000 to about 100,000 mg/1) can be decreased by 95-98%, whereas the concentration of living organisms (e.g., microbes) can be decreased by 98-100%. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention may be easily and efficiently fabricated and marketed. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention is of durable and reliable construction. 
     The apparatus according to the present invention may have a relatively low manufacturing cost. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention so that the detailed description thereof that follows hereinafter may be better understood, and the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Additional details and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for treatment of industrial wastewater, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus for treatment of industrial wastewater, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The principles and operation of the apparatus and method for treatment of wastewater according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. It should be understood that these drawings are given for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be limiting. It should be noted that the figures illustrating various examples of the apparatus of the present invention are not to scale, and are not in proportion, for purposes of clarity. It should be noted that the blocks as well other elements in these figures are intended as functional entities only, such that the functional relationships between the entities are shown, rather than any physical connections and/or physical relationships. The same reference numerals and alphabetic characters will be utilized for identifying those components which are common in the apparatus for treatment of wastewater and its components shown in the drawings throughout the present description of the invention. Examples of constructions are provided for selected elements. Those versed in the art should appreciate that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives which may be utilized. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus  10  for treatment of industrial wastewater containing one or more contaminating components is illustrated, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Examples of the contaminating components include, but are not limited to oil products dissolved in water, phenols, organic dyes, aromatic compounds, aldehydes, organic acids, biological particles and other organic elements. 
     Generally, the apparatus  10  includes an entry mixing chamber  11 , a housing  12 , and a collecting chamber  17 . 
     The entry mixing chamber  11  has tubular chamber walls  111  attached to a chamber bottom  112  and an open mixing chamber top  113 . The entry mixing chamber is configured to operate as a cyclone mixer. The chamber walls  111  are equipped with a wastewater inlet port  114  configured for receiving the wastewater and with a gas inlet port  115  configured for receiving pressurized gas. An example of the pressurized gas suitable for the purpose of the present invention includes, but is not limited to compressed atmospheric air. The entry mixing chamber  11  can be constructed of a suitable metal, plastic or composite material with thickness of the walls appropriate to withstand the strain on the walls caused by the wastewater and gas pressure inside the entry mixing chamber  11 . 
     The housing  12  comprises housing walls  121 , an open housing top  123 , and a perforated housing bottom  124 . The housing walls  121  are attached to the open top  113  of the entry mixing chamber  11  to provide hydraulic communication between the entry mixing chamber  11  and the housing  12 . Shape of the housing  12  can, for example, be tubular. However, it should be understood that generally, any other desired shape of the housing  12  can be used. The housing  12  can be constructed of a suitable metal, plastic or composite material with thickness of the walls appropriate to withstand the strain on the walls caused by the wastewater and gas pressure inside the housing  12 . 
     The apparatus  10  also includes a collecting chamber  17  mounted on the open housing top  123  to provide hydraulic communication between the collecting chamber  17  and the housing  12 . The collecting chamber  17  comprises collecting chamber walls  173 , a top  174  and a bottom  175  having an opening  176  matching the open housing top  123 . The collecting chamber  17  has a projecting part  177 . Preferably, but not mandatory, the bottom  175  of the collecting chamber  17  in the projecting part  177  is arranged below the upper end  125  of the housing walls  121 . The collecting chamber  17  has a wastewater outlet port  171  for discharge of the treated wastewater. The wastewater outlet port  171  is arranged at the bottom  175  of the collecting chamber  17  in the projecting part  177 . The collecting chamber  17  can have a gas outlet port  172  for release of the pressurized gas. The gas outlet port  172  can be arranged at the top  174 . Shape of the collecting chamber  17  can, for example, be tubular. However, it should be understood that generally, any other desired shape of the collecting chamber  17  can be used. The collecting chamber  17  can be constructed of a suitable metal, plastic or composite material with thickness of the walls appropriate to withstand the strain on the walls caused by the wastewater and gas pressure inside collecting chamber  17 . 
     The apparatus  10  further includes a first electrode  13  and a second electrode  14  arranged within the housing  12  and coupled to a voltage power supply  15 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  12  has an electrically conductive inner surface  125  that is associated with the first electrode  13 . The second electrode  14  includes a pipe  126  made of an electrically conductive material. The pipe  126  is arranged within the housing  12  along a longitudinal axis O of the housing  12 . When desired, the outer surface  127  of the housing walls  121  can be made of or covered with an electrically nonconductive material. 
     The power supply  15  can be powered either from a commercial AC power line (not shown) or from an autonomous generator of electric energy. The power supply  15  can be either a direct current (DC) power supply or an alternating current (AC) power supply. For example, the power supply can operate in the range of about 10 volts to about 40 volts and is capable of maintaining the electric current in the range of about 50 A (amperes) to 500 A. The DC power supply can, for example, be a conventional rectifier configured to transform alternating current (AC) power obtained from the AC power line into a DC output or pulsating DC output. 
     The apparatus  10  also includes a conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 , and partially filling a space between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 . Examples of the conductive particulate material  16  include, but are not limited to, graphite, titanium, aluminum, iron, stainless steel and a combination thereof. A dimension of particles of the conductive particulate material can, for example, be in the range of about 3 to about 5 millimeters. The conducting particles can have a variety of geometric shapes. It should be noted that ions of conductive particulate material  16  can also be used for coagulation of the products of the decomposition of the contaminating organic compounds. Accordingly, a choice of the conductive particulate material  16  for a certain treatment depends on the level of contamination and on the type of contaminating components in the wastewater under the treatment. 
     It should be noted here that a cross-sectional dimension of holes  126  in the perforated bottom  113  of the housing  12  is less than a dimension of the particles of the conductive particulate material  16 . This feature prevents penetration of the particles into the holes  126 . 
     The apparatus  10  further includes an electrically powered mixer  18 . The electrically powered mixer  18  comprises an axle  181  equipped with one or more whirling blades  182  and mechanically connected to an electric driver  183  configured for rotating the axle  181 . The axle  181  passes from the electric driver  183  through the collecting chamber  17 , through the housing  12 , and then through the entry mixing chamber  11  where it is mechanically connected to a supporting bearing  116  mounted at the bottom  112  of the entry mixing chamber  11 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the axle  181  passes through a cavity  128  of the second pipe electrode  14  arranged in the housing  11 . The axle  181  is arranged in the housing  11  such that the whirling blades  182  are located within the conductive particulate material  16 . 
     Preferably, the electrically powered mixer includes a plurality of whirling blades  182  arranged on the axle  181  along its longitudinal axis. A distribution of the whirling blades  182  along the axle and distance between them can be varied to establish an optimal mixing condition. Likewise, a broad variety of profile blades in the mechanical mixer can be used. The whirling blades can, for example, be arranged at angles in the range of about 30° to 60° with respect to the plane of rotation. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the wastewater inlet port  114  can be coupled to a wastewater inlet manifold  116  equipped with a controllable inlet valve  117  configured for regulating a flow rate of ingress of wastewater. The gas inlet port  115  can be coupled to a gas inlet manifold  118  equipped with a controllable inlet valve  119  configured for regulating a flow rate of ingress of gas. Likewise, the wastewater outlet port  171  can be coupled to a water outlet manifold  178  equipped with a controllable outlet valve  173  configured for regulating a flow rate of egress of the treated wastewater. 
     When desired, the apparatus  10  can further include a separator (not shown) coupled to the water outlet manifold  178  and configured for separation of sludge from water. The separator can include one or more filters or other known separating devices configured for filtering the treated wastewater for separation of the cleaned water from the sludge. 
     The apparatus can be controlled by a control system (not shown) including several conventional sensing and control devices. Examples of the sensing and control devices include, but are not limited to, pressure and/or flow sensors, water quality sensors, water meters, pumps, as well as other similar or suitable devices. Each may be a commercially available component. The water quality sensors can, for example, be arranged at any desired location along the wastewater flow. Examples of the water quality sensor include turbidity meters, biosensors, biological sensors, and other similar, suitable, and conventional devices. 
     In operation, a controllable ingress flow of wastewater is provided into the entry mixing chamber  11  through the wastewater inlet port  114 . A controllable ingress flow of pressurized gas is provided into the entry mixing chamber  11  through the gas inlet port  115 . The mixed wastewater and pressurized air pass upwardly through the perforated housing bottom  124  into the housing, which is filled with the conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes. 
     The particles of the conductive particulate material  16  together with the wastewater and gas are brought into a controllable agitation state by means of the electrically powered mixer  18 . In the agitation state, the particles can be maintained in continuous motion both in the vertical and the horizontal directions. While the conductive particles move owing to the agitation caused by a mechanical mixer together with wastewater and pressurized gas, the particles can be contact with each other. The controllable agitation can provide a horizontal and vertical movement of the conductive particles and prevent sticking of the particles together and aggregation of large clusters. Accordingly, an “apparent” (or “dynamic”) volume occupied by the moving conducting particles can be larger than the volume of the conducting elements, for example, by 8%-22% than the volume when the particles are at rest. This apparent volume can be varied by changing the rotation speed of the axle  181  with the whirling blade  182  arranged within the conductive particulate material  16 . 
     When a predetermined electric voltage from the power supply  15  is applied across the first and second electrodes  13  and  14  a difference in electric potential is developed between the adjacent dispersed conductive elements. The electric current can controllably flow through the mixture of the wastewater and the conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 , thereby generating an electric discharge with a momentary electric arc between the particles. In operation, electric discharges with arcs can take place substantially all over the volume of the wastewater passing through the apparatus between the electrodes. The arcs formed between the conducting elements can result in the formation of ozone, ultraviolet radiation, regions of micro-impulses of heat, pressure, cavitation and other phenomena. The presence of these phenomena in a relatively large volume of liquid provides more effective decomposition of organic compounds dissolved in the wastewater. 
     The density of the micro electric discharge phenomena depends on the properties of the conducting particles, and can be regulated by modifying the rotational velocity of the electrically powered mixer  18 . 
     In order to ensure required decomposition of the organic matter, wastewater passing through the apparatus can be maintained in contact with the micro electric discharge zone as long as required. The treatment time is not limited by hydro-pneumatic parameters of the wastewater and pressurized gas, and can be sufficient to obtain optimal results. 
     The treated wastewater from the housing can be discharged through the wastewater outlet port  171  together with the sludge that remains in the water, while the gaseous products of decomposition and the pressurized gas can be released into the atmosphere through the gas outlet port  172 . 
     When desired, the wastewater outlet port  171  together with the sludge that remains in the water can be further treated in the separator (not shown) coupled to the water outlet manifold  178  and configured for separation of sludge from water. The separation can, for example, be achieved by filtering the treated wastewater for separation of cleaned water from sludge. The cleaned water provided by the separator can then be supplied to any technological processes or can be dumped in a sewerage network (not shown). In turn, the sludge can be further dewatered by a filter press (not shown) arranged downstream of the separator, and after the dewatering, it can be packed and stored. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus  20  for treatment of industrial wastewater containing one or more contaminating components is illustrated, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  20  has mainly the same main parts of the apparatus ( 10  in  FIG. 1 ), however differs in the construction of the first and second electrodes. 
     Specifically, the apparatus  20  includes the entry mixing chamber  11  that has tubular chamber walls  111  attached to a chamber bottom  112  and an open mixing chamber top  113 . The entry mixing chamber is configured to operate as a cyclone mixer. The chamber walls  111  are equipped with a wastewater inlet port  114  configured for receiving the wastewater and with a gas inlet port  115  configured for receiving pressurized gas. 
     The housing  12  comprises housing walls  121 , an open housing top  123 , and a perforated housing bottom  124 . The housing walls  121  are attached to the open top  113  of the entry mixing chamber  11  to provide hydraulic communication between the entry mixing chamber  11  and the housing  12 . According to this embodiment, the housing is made of a dielectric material. 
     The apparatus  20  also includes a collecting chamber  17  mounted on the open housing top  123  to provide hydraulic communication between the collecting chamber  17  and the housing  12 . The collecting chamber  17  comprises collecting chamber walls  173 , a top  174  and a bottom  175  having an opening  176  matching the open housing top  123 . The collecting chamber  17  has a wastewater outlet port  171  for discharge of the treated wastewater. The wastewater outlet port  171  is arranged at the bottom  175  of the collecting chamber  17 . The collecting chamber  17  can have a gas outlet port  172  for release of the pressurized gas. The gas outlet port  172  can be arranged at the top  174 . 
     The apparatus  20  further includes a first electrode  13  and a second electrode  14  arranged within the housing  12  and coupled to a voltage power supply  15 . According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the first and second electrodes  13  and  14  are grid electrodes. The first electrode  13  can include a conductive perforated plate arranged near the housing bottom  124  perpendicular to the housing walls  121 . The second electrode  14  can include a conductive perforated plate arranged in a parallel relationship with the conductive perforated plate of the first electrode  13 . 
     The apparatus  20  also includes a conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 , and partially filling a space between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 . Examples of the conductive particulate material  16  include, but are not limited to, graphite, titanium, aluminum, iron, stainless steel and a combination thereof. The conducting particles can have a variety of geometric shapes, and be in the range of about  3  to about  5  millimeters. 
     A cross-sectional dimension of holes in the conductive perforated plates of the first and second electrodes  13  and  14  is less than a dimension of particles of the conductive particulate material  16 . This feature prevents penetration of the agitated particles of the conductive particulate material  16  into the holes of the perforated plates and flushing the particulate material  16  from the housing together with the wastewater. 
     The power supply  15  coupled to the first and second electrodes  13  and  14  can be powered either from a commercial AC power line (not shown) or from an autonomous generator of electric energy. The power supply  15  can be either a direct current (DC) power supply or an alternating current (AC) power supply. For example, the power supply can operate in the range of about 10 volts to about 40 volts and is capable of maintaining the electric current in the range of about 50 A (amperes) to 500 A. 
     The apparatus  20  further includes an electrically powered mixer  18  that comprises an axle  181  equipped with one or more whirling blades  182  and mechanically connected to an electric driver  183  configured for rotating the axle  181 . The axle  181  passes from the electric driver  183  through the collecting chamber  17 , through the housing  12 , and then through the entry mixing chamber  11  where it is mechanically connected to a supporting bearing  116  mounted at the bottom  112  of the entry mixing chamber  11 . The axle  181  is arranged in the housing  11  such that the whirling blades  182  are located within the conductive particulate material  16 . A distribution of the whirling blades  182  along the axle and distance between them can be varied to establish an optimal mixing condition. Likewise, a broad variety of profile blades in the mechanical mixer can be used. The whirling blades can, for example, be arranged at angles in the range of about 30° to 60° with respect to the plane of rotation. 
     The controllable agitation of the conductive material  16  can provide a horizontal and vertical movement of the conductive particles and prevent sticking of the particles together and aggregation of large clusters. Accordingly, an “apparent” (or “dynamic”) volume occupied by the moving conducting particles can be larger than the volume of the conducting elements, for example, by 8%-22% than the volume when the particles are at rest. This apparent volume can be varied by changing the rotation speed of the axle  181  with the whirling blade  182  arranged within the conductive particulate material  16 . 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the wastewater inlet port  114  can be coupled to a wastewater inlet manifold  116  equipped with a controllable inlet valve  117  configured for regulating a flow rate of ingress of wastewater. The gas inlet port  115  can be coupled to a gas inlet manifold  118  equipped with a controllable inlet valve  119  configured for regulating a flow rate of ingress of gas. Likewise, the wastewater outlet port  171  can be coupled to the water outlet manifold  178  equipped with the controllable outlet valve  173  configured for regulating a flow rate of egress of the treated wastewater. 
     When desired, the apparatus  20  can further include a separator (not shown) coupled to the water outlet manifold  178  and configured for separation of sludge from water. The separator can include one or more filters or other known separating devices configured for filtering the treated wastewater for separation of cleaned water from sludge. 
     The apparatus can be controlled by a control system (not shown) including several conventional sensing and control devices. Examples of the sensing and control devices include, but are not limited to, pressure and/or flow sensors, water quality sensors, water meters, pumps, as well as other similar or suitable devices. Each may be a commercially available component. The water quality sensors can, for example, be arranged at any desired location along the wastewater flow. Examples of the water quality sensors that can be used in the apparatus of the present invention include, but are not limited to, turbidity meters, biosensors, biological sensors, and other similar, suitable, and conventional devices. 
     The operation of apparatus  20  can be likened to the operation of the apparatus ( 10  in  FIG. 1 ), mutatis mutandis. 
     Specifically, a controllable ingress flow of wastewater is provided into the entry mixing chamber  11  through the wastewater inlet port  114 . A controllable ingress flow of pressurized gas is provided into the entry mixing chamber  11  through the gas inlet port  115 . The mixed wastewater and pressurized air pass upwardly through the perforated housing bottom  124  into the housing, which is filled with the conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes. 
     The particles of the conductive particulate material  16  together with the wastewater and gas are brought into a controllable agitation state by means of the electrically powered mixer  18 . In the agitation state, the particles can be maintained in continuous motion both in the vertical and the horizontal directions. The controllable agitation can prevent sticking of the particles together and aggregation of large clusters. The apparent volume occupied by the moving conducting particles can be varied by changing the rotation speed of the axle  181  with the whirling blade  182  arranged within the conductive particulate material  16 . 
     When a predetermined electric voltage from the power supply  15  is applied across the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 , a difference in electric potential is developed between the adjacent dispersed conductive elements. The electric current flowing through the mixture of the wastewater and the conductive particulate material  16  placed between the first and second electrodes  13  and  14 , can generate an electric discharge with momentary electric arcs between the particles. In operation, electric discharges with arcs can take place substantially all over the volume of the wastewater passing through the apparatus between the electrodes. The arcs formed between the conducting elements can result in the formation of ozone, ultraviolet radiation, regions of micro-impulses of heat, pressure, cavitation and other phenomena. The presence of these phenomena in a relatively large volume of liquid provides more effective decomposition of organic compounds dissolved in the wastewater. The density of the micro electric discharge phenomena depends on the properties of the conducting particles, and can be regulated by modifying the rotational velocity of the electrically powered mixer  18 . 
     According to an embodiment, a surface area of the first electrode  13  exposed to the conductive material is equal to the surface area of the second electrode  14 . This provision may result in a more uniform distribution of the arc formation through the entire volume of the agitated conductive particles. 
     It should be noted that the configuration of the first and second electrodes  13  and  14  provided by the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  enables prevention of formation of a short circuit state between the electrodes  13  and  14 , that may happen in the case of malfunction of the electrically powered mixer or uncontrolled decrease of the flows of the wastewater and/or gas passing through the apparatus. In the case of the faulty functioning of the mixer and/or supply of the wastewater, the “dynamic” volume occupied by the moving conducting particles decreases. The decrease of the volume of the conductive material results in the formation of a nonconductive gap between the conducting material  16  and the second electrode  14  that results in break of the current between the electrodes  13  and  14 . Thus, the apparatus according to this embodiment has more durable and reliable construction and operates more safely, when compared to the apparatuses in which the conducting material is always in contact with the electrodes. 
     In order to ensure required decomposition of the organic matter, wastewater passing through the apparatus can be maintained in contact with the micro electric discharge zone as long as required. The treatment time is not limited by hydro-pneumatic parameters of the wastewater and pressurized gas, and can be sufficient to obtain optimal results. 
     As such, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, can appreciate that while the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, the concept upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, systems and processes for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. 
     Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Finally, it should be noted that the word “comprising” as used throughout the appended claims is to be interpreted to mean “including but not limited to”. 
     It is important, therefore, that the scope of the invention is not construed as being limited by the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Other variations are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. Other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to different combinations or directed to the same combinations, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the present description.