The Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is focused on establishing a fundamental understanding of the operation of an ozone-advanced oxidation reactor, which utilizes low-frequency sonics as a means to reduce ozone consumption, increase its solubility and improve mass transport. The process appears to "catalyze" ozone-oxidation reactions. The Phase II program includes the development, design and demonstration of a prototype, pilot-scale processor as an efficient and cost-effective method for advanced oxidation applications. Use of the advanced oxidation reactor represents a quantum improvement in process productivity and renders expanded applications for the replacement of harmful oxidation and bleaching reagents with ozone for a broad range of industrial applications. These include oxidation of biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand in paper pulp, textile, and land fill leachate wastewaters; bleaching of pulps; and disinfection in food processing.
