E-BEAM Treatment of Organically Contaminated Water

Energetic electrons injected into water abundantly create short-lived radicals that initiate rapid reactions. This leads to the break-up of organic contaminants into harmless products. The process works without catalyst (or other consumables) at ambient temperature and pressure. It is highly energy-efficient. We discuss preliminary results concerning removal of trichloro-ethylene, chloroform, benzene, and toluene using an electron beam (E-BEAM) system. On the basis of these results, we review the development of a compact E-BEAM system that can be used in space inhabitation and long-term space travel. Portability is achieved by using a relatively low beam energy, ~250 keV. We discuss newly available electron transparent windows, the development of a high-efficiency accelerator and power supply that control the power consumption to a level acceptable by NASA standards.