Apparatus for gas absorption in a liquid

An apparatus for effecting gas absorption in a liquid, comprising:

• a container containing a liquid;
• a vertically oriented tubular member positioned in said container such that a top end thereof is positioned below the surface of the liquid, said tubular member forming a flow path for said liquid from said top end to a bottom end thereof;
• a float secured to said top end of said tubular member for suspending said tubular member from the surface of the liquid;
• gas introducing means disposed on said vertically oriented tubular remember, said gas introducing means comprising an annular chamber surrounding said vertically oriented tube, said annular chamber communicating with an interior of said vertically oriented tubular member by means of an annular gas feed opening such that as liquid is drawn vertically downward through said vertically oriented tubular member, gas is drawn into said liquid flow, said annular chamber also being in fluid communication with a source of gas;
• a nozzle housing attached to a bottom end of said vertically oriented tubular member including a nozzle formed to direct the flow of liquid and said gas into said container;
• and
• a pump operatively connected to the bottom end of said vertically oriented tube such that an impeller is positioned within said vertically oriented tube within said gas introduction mans and said nozzle housing, said pump being operative to draw a flow of said liquid and said gas downward through said vertically oriented tubular member at a rate such that said gas is drawn from said gas introducing means into said downwardly directed liquid flow and such that the rate of flow is greater than an upward movement direction of bubbles of said gas in the liquid.