Patent ID: 8088290

Claim:
A method of treating a chemically or biologically contaminated fluid using wave energy, comprising the steps of: providing a cyclone separator having a first end, a second end, a central axis from the first end to the second end, an inlet, an overflow disposed in the first end, an underflow disposed in the second end, wherein the inlet is disposed proximate to the first end; creating a generally longitudinally extending source of wave energy comprising an open electrical arc between a first electrode extending through the overflow and a second electrode extending through the underflow wherein both electrodes are at least partially disposed within the cyclone separator, spaced apart from one another, and axially aligned with one another along the central axis of the cyclone separator, and wherein the source of wave energy comprises ultraviolet light; creating a flow of the chemically or biologically contaminated fluid in a thin film along a vortex path in close proximity to and surrounding the source of wave energy; and directly exposing the chemically or biologically contaminated fluid to the wave energy as the chemically or biologically contaminated fluid flows along the path such that only a gas separates the chemically or biologically contaminated fluid from the open electrical arc.