Pulsed power for advanced waste water remediation

We describe a 2-stage technology for degrading water borne chlorinated/aromatic organic pollutants, based on a pulsed power treatment in the first stage followed by bio-treatment. The combination of a strong pulsed corona/streamer discharge in the water aerosol in the first stage with inoculation of partially dechlorinated (15-30%) processed water with bacteria Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 in the second stage demonstrated as high as 90% dechlorination in the first 40 hours after inoculation, whereas the control (nonaerosol-treated sample) had no chloride ions released, and no bacterial growth. The main features and advantages of the novel two-stage approach, and future plans for research are presented and analyzed.