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Science

Cavitation - Purifying Water with Ultrasound

Marcus SchlenchMay 21, 2012

Antibiotics, psychoactive drugs, hormones and many other substances enter the water cycle and the food chain without people being aware of it. Sewage treatment plants do not completely break down these biologically active substances. Now scientists have developed a way to purify water without resorting to chemicals.

https://p.dw.com/p/SAdn

Ultrasound and high pressure combine to create thousands of tiny cavities in the water. They decay spontaneously, generating enough energy to break down the impurities. This method, known as cavitation, has been demonstrated successfully in the laboratory. Soon it is to be tested on a large scale.