Ozone is an unstable molecule with three atoms of oxygen, O3.  Ozone is produced when oxygen is introduced to ultra-violet light or a corona discharge (electrostatic charge).  While ultra-violet light is not an efficient means of generating ozone commercially, it is how the sun’s ultra-violet rays produce the protecting ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere.  That ozone layer protects us from the dangerous ultra-violet rays of the sun.  Lightning is nature’s means of producing ozone via a corona discharge.  The clean smell that occurs during a thunderstorm is the ozone produced by lightning.  Commercial generation of ozone can be accomplished by feeding an oxygen containing gas into a high voltage corona.

Being an unstable molecule, the extra oxygen atom quickly and easily attacks organic and inorganic materials, which are exposed to it.  Therefore, it is a powerful sterilizer and destroys bacteria, viruses and odors.  This chemical reaction is called oxidation.  During oxidation the extra oxygen atom is destroyed leaving no bacteria, virus or odor, with only oxygen remaining.  Therefore, there are no harmful by-products produced.  Ozone is second only to fluorine as the most powerful oxidant.

Ozone was first used in the early 1900’s in northern Europe to treat drinking water.  It has been used consistently since then in Europe as the method of disinfecting the drinking water.  Cities in the U.S. are also beginning to use ozone to treat their drinking water.

Some of the advantages of using ozone are:

  • Ozone controls color, taste and odors.
  • Ozone destroys many molds, mildews and viruses.
  • Ozone oxidizes iron, manganese, phenol and sulfides and many inorganic compounds.
  • Ozone increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in waste-water.
  • Ozone requires minimal contact time.
  • When ozone decomposes, only oxygen remains.
  • Ozone eliminates the need to handle, store and dispose of hazardous chemicals.

Some of the disadvantages of using ozone are:

  • The initial cost of the equipment may be capital intensive.
  • At excessive levels, Ozone is corrosive and toxic.

While ozone can be toxic to humans, it can be easily monitored.  Best of all, humans can smell residual ozone at a level of .01 to .03 parts per million.  The Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), has stipulated that the safe level of ozone is .1 parts per million (ppm), well above the level humans can readily smell ozone.  This safety level is based on an exposure of 8 hours per day for 5 days a week.  The OSHA 15-minute ozone-exposure limit is 0.3 ppm.  Ozone can safely be used with the appropriate air monitoring equipment, alarms and automatic shutdown controls, which do not significantly impact the cost of the ozone generating systems.

Because of its qualities and characteristics, ozone is gaining recognition and acceptance as a biocide and oxidant in applications beyond drinking water treatment, such as water cooling towers, odor control, treatment of waste water and various applications in food processing.  With the increasing awareness and use of ozone, more and more applications are being discovered.

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