Sonic cavitation and ozonation of waste material

A process for combined acoustic treatment and ozonation of liquid waste material, comprising the steps of, placing the waste material in a vessel,

• providing the vessel with diffusers that emit gaseous bubbles thereinto, said diffuser causing said bubbles to cover at least 90 percent of the cross-sectional area of the vessel so as to divide the vessel by a gaseous barrier into a generally lower acoustic treatment section with a generally upper ozone contact section,
• initially placing said waste material into the acoustic treatment section, imparting acoustic energy to said material in said section at an energy level sufficient to cavitate and to emulsify said waste material,
• transferring said cavitated liquid to said ozone contact section, and diffusing a gas stream containing 0.5 to 10% ozone into said ozone contact section.