Dynamic gas-liquid contact apparatus and method

An improved gas-liquid contact apparatus comprises a housing having a reservoir for retaining a liquid therein. A combined mixing and separation system functions to draw a gas over the surface of the liquid to form a mixture and then scrubs and separates pre-selected elements from the mixture. The separated elements are recycled, shiphoned-off for use as an end product or drained back into the reservoir. The apparatus is particularly useful for removing pre-selected elements from contamined air or from exhaust gases discharged from an internal combustion engine. In one described embodiment, the apparatus is vertically disposed and the mixing and separation system includes a rotor having a conically shaped lower end emersed in the liquid to draw-up and spray the liquid into the gas stream. A blower creates a differential pressure across the system and provides the motive force for the scrubbing and separation functions. In a second described embodiment, the apparatus is horizontally disposed and the mixing and separation system comprises a plurality of baffles and deflectors that cooperate with at least one combined blower and scrubber to effect the mixing, scrubbing and separation functions. In both embodiments, the apparatus can be staged in multiple sections for more effective activity.