Gas Dispersion Apparatus for Improved Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer

A water treatment system comprising:

• a pre-treatment line including a water stream;
• an expansion section connected in flow communication along the pre-treatment line, the expansion section comprising an upstream end having a first cross-sectional area and a downstream end having a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area;
• a gas stream containing at least 3% ozone gas, the gas stream being in flow communication with the expansion section at at least one injection point;
• and
• a monolith having an outlet end and an inlet end and being in flow communication with the pre-treatment line, the outlet and inlet ends being downstream from the expansion section, the monolith having a plurality of channels therein through which the water stream and gas stream may travel.

A method of treating water, the method comprising:

• (a) routing a water stream through a pre-treatment line;
• (b) diverting a portion of the water stream from the pre-treatment line into at least one side stream, the side stream branching off of the pre-treatment line at a diversion point;
• (c) providing an output gas stream containing ozone gas;
• (d) introducing the output gas stream to the water in the at least one side stream at at least one injection point, resulting in a mixed-phase stream comprising ozone gas and water downstream of the at least one injection point;
• (e) introducing the mixed-phase stream into the water stream at a reintroduction point located downstream from the diversion point.