Ozone is a naturally occurring compound that combines three oxygen atoms to form the ozone molecule (O3). Ozone is a molecule that consists of three negatively charged oxygen atoms. The ozone molecule is unstable and has a short half-life, causing it to fall back into its original form, oxygen (O2). When ozone comes in contact with contaminants, such as bacteria and pathogens, it causes an oxidation reaction that eliminates the contaminants and breaks the ozone down into two oxygen molecules. This reaction is what makes ozone a safe and effective disinfectant.
Ozone is formed naturally when energy from electrical discharge forms single oxygen atoms that combine with O2 molecules to form ozone. Ozone (O3) is created naturally in the stratosphere by short wavelength ultraviolet radiation. In thunderstorms, ozone forms due to a high voltage lightning strike. The fresh scent after a thunderstorm is caused by ozone formation. For commercial and industrial uses, ozone is most commonly produced using high voltage electrical corona discharge.
O3, Ozone is an unstable molecule under ambient conditions due to the weak bonds holding the third oxygen atom. This instability makes ozone a great, naturally potent, oxidizing, disinfecting agent. Oxidation occurs when ozone molecules come in contact with oxidizable substances like microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites) and other organic and inorganic compounds like metal ions, plastics, and rubbers. This causes the third oxygen to be released from the ozone molecule and to bind to other materials so that only pure and stable oxygen molecules (O2) are left.
Oxidation is the chemical interaction of oxygen-containing molecules with substances they may come in contact with. Oxidation produces chemical changes characterized by the loss of electrons. In ozone oxidation reactions, the unstable third oxygen atom is released from the ozone molecule to the molecule being oxidized. In disinfection, the transfer of energy via oxidation results in the rupture or lysing of the outer membranes of microorganisms. As ozone molecules enter lysed microorganisms, genetic material is destroyed. For the treatment of metal-containing substances, oxidation by ozone typically hydrolyzes inorganic molecules, causing them to become insoluble, which removes metals by filtration.
Ozone is often used as an anti-microbial agent. Ozone is very effective at oxidizing and destroying organic and other compounds. For over 100 years, ozone generation has been used as a disinfectant in many industries, such as food production, water treatment, and many more. Over time, ozone generation has shown that it is an improvement to many processes that conventionally use harsh chemicals as disinfectants. This is because of the extreme cost savings, and the many health benefits of using ozone in place of chemicals, such as chlorine.
There are many benefits of using ozone treatments for disinfection. For example:
• Decreases the cleaning/sanitizing downtime of your operations.
• Typical sanitization cycles are reduced by 30% to 75%
• Removes airborne microbiological and improves odors
• No harmful chemical residues that require a final rinse
• Integration into the current process made simple
• Sustainably generated on-site and eco-friendly
• Saves energy as no hot water is required
• No chemical transportation or storage
• 3000x more germicidal than chlorine
• Minimal continuous maintenance
• Lowers wastewater disposal cost
• Instant pathogen destruction
• Water and energy efficiency
• Increases production time
• Longer product shelf life
• Ethylene removal
Ozone quickly and naturally decomposes to oxygen with no other byproducts. Ozone is environmentally friendly and sustainably generated on-site. Without the need for storage containers and shipping, ozone systems have a significantly smaller carbon footprint than alternatives.
Selecting the appropriate generator includes many variables for our generators, variables such as application, water parameters, desired parameters, flow, square footage, feed-gas generation, objective, budgets, humidity, temperature, etc., will affect your generator selection.
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