Patent ID: 8337709

Claim:
A method for treating a liquid comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus comprising: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone head having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a throat having a first opening, a second opening and a central axis, wherein the first opening is connected to the outlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, (c) a tank connected to the second opening of the throat, wherein the tank has a maximum inner diameter that is larger than an inner diameter of the second opening of said throat, and (d) a wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends through the outlet into the first opening of the throat along the central axis of the throat, and a second electrode within the tank that is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode along the central axis; supplying the liquid to the inlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head; and irradiating the liquid with one or more wave energies produced by the wave energy source.