The Ozmotics Insider

Animal Feed Operations (AFO) are areas where large clusters of livestock inhabit small confined areas.

Unlike traditional livestock management operations where livestock is scattered over larger areas (i.e. grazing pastures, fields, or on rangeland), AFO operations typically require food to be brought in to a small land area where the majority of animals are confined and raised.

While bringing many benefits (i.e. smaller land areas can support larger livestock operations) Animal Feed Operations (AFO) introduce some new and unique challenges that are not typically present in the traditional grazing or scattered livestock management model.

Animal Feed Operations (AFO) – Challenges:

Increased density of livestock confined within smaller land areas will result in increased organic waste (feces, manure, etc) production. In typical grazing style livestock management operations, the surrounding land is able to absorb and biodegrade the produced organic waste. AFO however, will typically require that waste collection, disposal and management be implemented since the land will be over saturated and unable to absorb and biologically decompose all the waste produced.Additionally, animal feed operations typically require that the livestock food be brought in and animals be fed on-site.While feedlot management and delivery can eliminate the amount of food that is wasted before being consumed by the livestock, eventually some food will end up being mixed with manure therefore raising the quantities of waste produced.

Odors:

Increased density of livestock will result in the increased waste production. Increased waste (manure) production within small confined areas will mean that elevation of the unpleasant odors associated with the manure produced (bacterial and microbial transformation of the partially digested and non-digestible biological matter, etc.).

Mismanaged animal food that was not consumed (spilled food) is being removed with the manure and is an additional source of nutrients for the biological organisms feeding off it. The food decomposition process combined with the unpleasant odor of the manure and slurry (caused by odorous indolics microbial metabolites, etc.) will make the AFO a very unpleasant environment that may be considered a strong nuisance by the neighboring establishments. AFO odors are considered as a specific category of air pollution.

Biohazard Risks Associated With AFO:

Manure and slurry created by AFO is an ideal breeding stage and an accelerant for bacterial, fungal and viral growth. The water leaching into the ground or the runoff water exiting to the surrounding watershed can contain dangerous levels of microbiological organisms dangerous to both humans and animals. Contamination of drinking water wells and other clean water holding areas is a considerable factor in AFO. Also algae growth within still water bodies surrounding the animal feed operation is also a well documented issue.

The following is a short-list of bacteria and the associated illnesses each is responsible for. Many are found to thrive well or at least benefit from the nutrient rich environments found in manure and slurry produced within typical animal feed operations.

Bacteria

- Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic) – Causes Gastroenteritis
• - Leptospira (spp.) – Causes Leptospirosis
• - Salmonella typhi – Causes Typhoid fever
• - Salmonella (≈2,100 serotypes) – Causes Salmonellosis
• - Shigella (4 spp.) – Causes Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery).
• - Vibrio cholerae - Causes Cholera
Protozoa
• - Balantidium coli - Causes Balantidiasis
• - Cryptosporidium parvum – Causes Cryptosporidiosis
• - Entamoeba histolytica – Causes Amebiasis (amoebic dysentery)
• - Giardia lamblia – Causes Giardiasis
Helminths
• - Ascaris lumbricoides – Causes Ascariasis
• - T. solium - Causes Taeniasis
• - Trichuris trichiura – Causes Trichuriasis
Viruses
Enteroviruses (72 types, e.g., polio, echo, and coxsackie virus) – Cause Gastroenteritis, heart anomalies, meningitis.
• - Hepatitis A virus – Cause Infectious hepatitis
• - Norwalk agent – Cause Gastroenteritis
• - Rotavirus – Cause Gastroenteritis

Source: National Small Flow Clearinghouse

Disease and Contamination Propagation Management

Insects such as flies (house fly or Musca domestica) can carry the disease borne microbiological organisms further away from manure and slurry pits and AFO operations.

Flies, mosquitoes and other insects can also cross-contaminate the food meant for human and animal consumption. If such food is exported from an APO facility (i.e. food or milk produced on the farm and taken away to the store or market where it’s being sold to consumers), serious illness or disease outbreaks can result.

The abundance of food will also serve as an attractant to other animals such as rodents (mice, rats, etc.) that are known to potentially be able to carry disease and infection much further than flies and bugs. Birds and other animals can also become disease carriers and because those animals can travel even further as well as pass the disease to other animals they come in contact with, the potential danger of disease spread from mismanaged AFO operation is a clear and serious concern.

Use of Ozone to Control Microbiological Growth

There are many benefits that ozone can bring to an AFO (Animal Feed Operation).
Ozone is a strong oxidant and will react with most organic compounds present in manure and slurry. Therefore ozone will accelerate the decomposition process and help better manage the waste produced by typical AFO.

Ozone is also known to be effective in incapacitating the majority of microbiological organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). It is widely believed that ozone kills viruses, bacteria and other microbiological organisms by attacking the inner membrane wall of the microbiological organism’s cellular structure.

The effectiveness of ozone to destroy bacteria, viruses and other microbiological organisms has been tested and the results published in several scientific papers and other journals. The following is a summary of results published to date:<.p>

• - E. coli – Destroyed with 0.02 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Poliovirus 1 – Destroyed with 0.1-0.2 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Rotavirus  – Destroyed with 0.006-0.06 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia lamblia cysts  – Destroyed 0.5-0.6 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia muris cysts – - Destroyed 1.8-2.0 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7

Ozone is very helpful in reducing odorous phenolics, microbial metabolites (e.g., phenol, p-cresol and p-ethylphenol), odorous indolics, and microbial metabolites (e.g., 3-methylindole and indole) therefore helping greatly in managing odor and air pollution created by an animal feed operation. Therefore the air pollution typically associated with animal feed operations can be eliminated or minimized to more tolerable or acceptable levels.

Ozone for Watershed Management

Increased concentration of organic waste in runoff waters originating from an AFO will result in increased algae growth in lagoons and lakes neighboring the AFO establishment. Ozone can be effectively used to control algae growth in lagoons and ponds. Ozone will eliminate the algae growth by destroying the present algae within the water body as well as oxidizing the biological waste (such as sulphur, phosphor and nitrogen) that serve as an accelerant to algae growth (food source for algae).

Effectiveness of Ozone in Managing Insect Infestations:

The study by Masten et. al (Toxicity of Ozonated Animal Manure to the House Fly, Musca domestica, J. ENVIRON. QUAL., VOL. 30, SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2001), concluded that ozonated slurry is very toxic to house flies.), resulting in a mortality rate of between 9.4% in sheep manure to close to 100% in swine manure.  Ozonated slurry can help in management of the airborne insects within the animal feed operation.

The reduction of insects that can become a potential disease carrier, will decrease danger of disease spreading as well as decrease risks of food cross contamination by disease carrying insects.

Use of Ozone as a Food Preserving Agent:

Ozone can be effectively used to preserve both animal food as well as food destined for human consumption. Ozone can be implemented to stop rotting and mold growth inside a feedlot silos as well as to decontaminate and preserve the human food (destroy any bacterial and viral growth on meat, vegetables and processed food as well as ensure that the food is kept sterile afterward). Ozone can also be used in sanitizing work surface areas (food processing, handling and storage areas) as well as livestock habitation areas (places where livestock is kept).

Ozone in AFO Operations – Conclusion:

The benefits of ozone in animal feed operations management are many. Ozone can be used in many areas such as pollution management, disease prevention, food sanitation, environmental remediation and more.

Ozone leaves no harmful by products and is environmentally safe to use (any unused ozone will degrade back into more stable oxygen form shortly after being generated). Ozonated water can be safely re-used or discharged directly to the environment (will not leave any harmful residues).

Ozone technology can be made very portable. Ozone is generated on-site therefore eliminating the need to transport, store and manage it (as the case is with chlorine and other chemicals).

Ozone can be generated from ambient air and the only requirement is that an adequate electrical power source is available. Smaller ozone generator and treatment skids can be designed to be powered by portable electric generators therefore making them very portable and able to be used in more than one physical location and for more than one application.

Aside from the initial investment to purchase and deploy an ozone treatment solution, ozone generators carry much lower overhead than conventional competing solutions (only require a typical maintenance to ensure the equipment will continue functioning properly).

The quality of the equipment installed does matter however. While ozone technology has become more affordable the selection of quality engineered and tested components, is important.
Experience is also a key factor in effectiveness of ozone use in AFO applications. Knowing how much ozone you may require as well as where and how to best use the ozone is a complex process.

In the majority of cases the complexity of factors present will make it very difficult to precisely determine the concentration and quantity of ozone required. In such cases a pre-deployment pilot study may be required. Gathering feedback about parameters and factors affecting the effectiveness of the ozone treatment will make the full implementation of the ozonation technology more effective as well as reduce overall operating costs by sizing the ozone injection skid properly.

If you require additional help and assistance in selecting a unit, please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763 for a complimentary consultation and review of your application’s requirements.

Disease and Contamination Propagation Management

Insects such as flies (house fly or Musca domestica) can carry the disease borne microbiological organisms further away from manure and slurry pits and AFO operations.

Flies, mosquitoes and other insects can also cross-contaminate the food meant for human and animal consumption. If such food is exported from an APO facility (i.e. food or milk produced on the farm and taken away to the store or market where it’s being sold to consumers), serious illness or disease outbreaks can result.

The abundance of food will also serve as an attractant to other animals such as rodents (mice, rats, etc.) that are known to potentially be able to carry disease and infection much further than flies and bugs. Birds and other animals can also become disease carriers and because those animals can travel even further as well as pass the disease to other animals they come in contact with, the potential danger of disease spread from mismanaged AFO operation is a clear and serious concern.

Use of Ozone to Control Microbiological Growth

There are many benefits that ozone can bring to an AFO (Animal Feed Operation).
Ozone is a strong oxidant and will react with most organic compounds present in manure and slurry. Therefore ozone will accelerate the decomposition process and help better manage the waste produced by typical AFO.

Ozone is also known to be effective in incapacitating the majority of microbiological organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). It is widely believed that ozone kills viruses, bacteria and other microbiological organisms by attacking the inner membrane wall of the microbiological organism’s cellular structure.

The effectiveness of ozone to destroy bacteria, viruses and other microbiological organisms has been tested and the results published in several scientific papers and other journals. The following is a summary of results published to date:

• - E. coli – Destroyed with 0.02 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Poliovirus 1 – Destroyed with 0.1-0.2 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Rotavirus  – Destroyed with 0.006-0.06 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia lamblia cysts  – Destroyed 0.5-0.6 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7
• - Giardia muris cysts – - Destroyed 1.8-2.0 mg.min/l of O3 at pH: 6 to 7

Ozone is very helpful in reducing odorous phenolics, microbial metabolites (e.g., phenol, p-cresol and p-ethylphenol), odorous indolics, and microbial metabolites (e.g., 3-methylindole and indole) therefore helping greatly in managing odor and air pollution created by an animal feed operation. Therefore the air pollution typically associated with animal feed operations can be eliminated or minimized to more tolerable or acceptable levels.

Ozone for Watershed Management

Increased concentration of organic waste in runoff waters originating from an AFO will result in increased algae growth in lagoons and lakes neighboring the AFO establishment. Ozone can be effectively used to control algae growth in lagoons and ponds. Ozone will eliminate the algae growth by destroying the present algae within the water body as well as oxidizing the biological waste (such as sulphur, phosphor and nitrogen) that serve as an accelerant to algae growth (food source for algae).

Effectiveness of Ozone in Managing Insect Infestations:

The study by Masten et. al (Toxicity of Ozonated Animal Manure to the House Fly, Musca domestica, J. ENVIRON. QUAL., VOL. 30, SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2001), concluded that ozonated slurry is very toxic to house flies.), resulting in a mortality rate of between 9.4% in sheep manure to close to 100% in swine manure.  Ozonated slurry can help in management of the airborne insects within the animal feed operation.

The reduction of insects that can become a potential disease carrier, will decrease danger of disease spreading as well as decrease risks of food cross contamination by disease carrying insects.

Use of Ozone as a Food Preserving Agent:

Ozone can be effectively used to preserve both animal food as well as food destined for human consumption. Ozone can be implemented to stop rotting and mold growth inside a feedlot silos as well as to decontaminate and preserve the human food (destroy any bacterial and viral growth on meat, vegetables and processed food as well as ensure that the food is kept sterile afterward). Ozone can also be used in sanitizing work surface areas (food processing, handling and storage areas) as well as livestock habitation areas (places where livestock is kept).

Ozone in AFO Operations – Conclusion:

The benefits of ozone in animal feed operations management are many. Ozone can be used in many areas such as pollution management, disease prevention, food sanitation, environmental remediation and more.

Ozone leaves no harmful by products and is environmentally safe to use (any unused ozone will degrade back into more stable oxygen form shortly after being generated). Ozonated water can be safely re-used or discharged directly to the environment (will not leave any harmful residues).

Ozone technology can be made very portable. Ozone is generated on-site therefore eliminating the need to transport, store and manage it (as the case is with chlorine and other chemicals).

Ozone can be generated from ambient air and the only requirement is that an adequate electrical power source is available. Smaller ozone generator and treatment skids can be designed to be powered by portable electric generators therefore making them very portable and able to be used in more than one physical location and for more than one application.

Aside from the initial investment to purchase and deploy an ozone treatment solution, ozone generators carry much lower overhead than conventional competing solutions (only require a typical maintenance to ensure the equipment will continue functioning properly).

The quality of the equipment installed does matter however. While ozone technology has become more affordable the selection of quality engineered and tested components, is important.
Experience is also a key factor in effectiveness of ozone use in AFO applications. Knowing how much ozone you may require as well as where and how to best use the ozone is a complex process.

In the majority of cases the complexity of factors present will make it very difficult to precisely determine the concentration and quantity of ozone required. In such cases a pre-deployment pilot study may be required. Gathering feedback about parameters and factors affecting the effectiveness of the ozone treatment will make the full implementation of the ozonation technology more effective as well as reduce overall operating costs by sizing the ozone injection skid properly.

If you require additional help and assistance in selecting a unit, please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763 for a complimentary consultation and review of your application’s requirements.

http://www.nesc.wvu.edu

 

 

Properly sizing an ozonation skid is a very important task when planning to use ozone for a particular application. Not adding enough ozone can undermine the effectiveness of the process while adding too much ozone can add unnecessary costs in terms of additional equipment needed to destroy ozone not consumed by the process.

Ozone Production Capacity Considerations:

Generally speaking there are four factors that determine how much ozone is required for a particular application:

Application: Different applications will require different concentrations of ozone. Even the same application will sometimes require a different concentration of ozone (i.e. wastewater treatment applications vary in their requirement for ozone depending on biological and chemical make-up of the effluent).

Contaminants: Ozone is a very strong oxidant, therefore ozone will react with both biological and non-biological contaminants and in general will be effective on both. The “one size fits all” approach cannot normally be used when sizing for anticipated ozone consumption during the particular process. Different elements react differently with ozone. Some applications need very small concentrations of ozone to oxidize contaminants while others will need much larger concentrations to complete the process. (i.e. certain biological organisms are harder to inactivate and therefore require higher ozone concentration).

Temperature and Pressure: Ozone is very effective at lower temperatures and less effective at higher temperatures. As such any application that requires higher temperatures to operate will be a less effective candidate for the use of ozone. Where the temperatures of the medium to be treated with ozone is above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) the medium may need to be chilled in order to be more effectively treated by ozone.

While ozone works best at lower temperatures the extremely low temperatures are not desired either when considering using ozone.

Still, the optimum temperature for ozonation is strongly dependant on the type of contaminant present and there is no single number or range of temperature readings that produce the best result.

Alternatively, ozone will dissolve better in a pressurized medium therefore elevating the pressure of the application can also benefit the process.

Flow and Capacity: The amount of ozone required to effectively treat the contamination will depend on the flow rate and capacity of the application. The faster the flow rate (measured in gallons per minute GPM or liters per minute LPM) the shorter the contact time between the ozone and the liquid will be thereby resulting in a higher concentration of ozone required. Same can be said for capacity. 10, 000 gallons of effluent to be treated will require more ozone to be injected than treating 1,000 gallons of the same.

Ozone Dosing – General Guidelines:

The following are general guidelines published by “Water & Waste Digest” magazine (http://www.wwdmag.com/).

- Bottled Water: Low to Mid-Range Residual: (0.05 ppm -0.3 ppm)
- Cooling Tower: Low to Mid-Range Residual: (0.05 ppm -0.3 ppm)
- Water Reclamation: Mid to High Range: (0.2 ppm -0.5+ ppm)
- Iron, Sulfur and Manganese Oxidation: Ultra Low Range: (below detectable levels)
- Water Reclamation for Odor Control Only: Low Range: (Less than 0.01 ppm)
- Bacteria Kill: Mid to High Range: (0.2 ppm -0.5+ ppm)

Sizing an Ozone Generator – General Guidelines:

The following are general guidelines for sizing the ozone injection skid based on the type of application (source: http://www.wwdmag.com/)

- Iron, Sulfur, Manganese Oxidation: 0.5 grams/hour (500 ppm) per 5 GPM flow capacity.
- Bottled water to maintain purity: 1 gram/hour per 5 GPM flow capacity.
- Killing bacteria: (100 cfu) = 1 gram per 1 GPM flow capacity.

Other Considerations When Sizing an Ozone Injection Skid:

There are several other factors that could influence the size of the ozonation skid required.

Type of Injection: The larger the contact area ozone has with the contaminant the more effective it will be. Air stone diffusers typically generate large ozone bubbles therefore decreasing the overall contact area. The Venturi injector is a much better technology as it creates many micro bubbles therefore increasing the contact area of ozone with the contaminant. Having a larger contact area will result in a more effective utilization of ozone therefore requiring less ozone to be injected.

Inline Versus Mixing Tank Design:With an inline treatment the entire flow of liquid is treated with the ozone. This means that the ozonation skid will be required to process a larger flow volume. Larger flow volumes will require a larger processing capacity (larger pumps, injectors, etc.). A larger ozonation skid will also require more ozone since the utilization to loss ratio of ozone will also be higher.

The multi-stage mixing tank design typically involves diverting a smaller portion of the flow to the ozonation skid. Ozone is injected and dissolved at a higher than required concentration. The concentrated ozonated flow is then mixed with the main body of water diluting the ozone concentration to the required levels.

Monitoring the Dissolved Concentration of Ozone:

In order to be effective ozone must be kept in a desired concentration within the medium to be treated. A low dissolved concentration will undermine the effectiveness of the ozone and too high a concentration will cause ozone to escape unused therefore requiring larger ozone destruct unit.

So how do you ensure the ozone concentration is maintained at the proper level?

ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) or a REDOX probe will measure the concentration of the dissolved ozone by measuring the oxidation potential of the medium. Since ozone is a strong oxidant agent , the oxidation potential of the medium measured will rise as the concentration of ozone increases. If the concentration levels of ozone decrease the oxidation potential will decrease as well.

Positioning the ORP probe strategically within the application infrastructure will give relatively accurate readings of the ozone concentration at certain points of the system. For example, an ozone mixing tank (baffle tank) will require a higher concentration of ozone than the external storage tank. Placing an ORP probe within the baffle tank and the external tank will allow you to effectively measure and adjust the concentration at both points.

Ozone Sizing – Conclusion

Properly sizing the ozone injection and dissolve rates is an important step in engineering any ozone application. To properly size the amount of ozone needed for a particular application ( as well as to maintain the optimal dissolve rate of the ozone) an experience is the key factor. However in the majority of cases the complexity of factors present will make it very difficult to precisely determine the concentration and quantity of ozone required. In such cases a pre-deployment pilot study may be required. Gathering feedback about parameters and factors affecting the effectiveness of the ozone treatment will make the full implementation of the ozonation technology more effective as well as reduce the overall operating costs by sizing the ozone injection skid properly.

If you require additional help and assistance in sizing a unit, please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763 for a complimentary consultation and review of your application’s requirements.

There have recently been multiple published incidents where contaminated food products have found their way into the market place and ultimately onto the consumer’s table. When this happens, typically the remedial action is to do a mass recall of any products that are even remotely suspected of being contaminated.

But the damage that happens when a product is recalled is far greater and significant than the direct financial loss the business suffers from mass- recalling and destroying large quantities of their product that is already on the store shelves and ready to be sold.

For example costs resulting for lawsuits launched by the consumers affected by the recalled product (i.e. getting sick from eating tainted food or drinking the contaminated water) can be significant. The bad publicity it brings and the loss of trust in the brand or the manufacturer of the tainted product can present even more significant liability than the monetary loss incurred due to the cost of recalling the tainted product.

Benefits of Ozone in Preventing Food Product Contamination

Ozone is well known for its ability to quickly and effectively kill the majority of microbiological organisms including some that are resistant to chlorine. Moreover, unlike chlorine, ozone leaves no dangerous trace by-products and therefore can be used not only for sanitizing the work surfaces that come into contact with the processed food but can also be used to sanitize the food directly. This can be accomplished by spraying fruits and vegetables with ozonated water thereby sanitizing the food and destroying any organic contaminants that may be present. Also, ozonating the processed meat and meat products will ensure that those products are free of any traces of bacteria or other microbiological contaminants.

Ozone can also be injected inside cold rooms and other storage compartments that house perishable foods. And unlike chlorine and other chemicals that leave the residue even after the sanitization process has been completed, ozone will leave the food residue-free when the food is ready to be packaged, consumed or further processed.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of ozone as both a direct and indirect antimicrobial agent for the treatment, storage and processing of foods. – Source: Ozone Cip: Ozone Cleaning in Place in Food Industries, Albert Canut, Andrés Pascual, IOA Conference and Exhibition Valencia, Spain – October 29 – 31, 2007.

Use of Ozone for “Clean in Place” ( CIP ) and Work Surface Sanitization

In addition to keeping the food source clean and free of microbiological contamination, ozone is also effective in decontaminating and sanitizing equipment and common processing areas (benches, tables, floors, racks, processing equipment, etc.).

Published research even suggests the ozone to be more effective than chlorine in sterilizing certain microbiological growth on stainless steel (SS) surfaces (Source: A Comparison of Ozonation and Chlorination for the Disinfection of Stainless Steel Surface, ANNEL K. GREENE, BRIAN K. FEW, and JOAO C. SERAFINI, Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Clernson University
- Clemson, SC 29634.)

The above study using the bacterial growth on the milk culture on the stainless steel plate medium found ozone to be equivalent to a 4.6 log reduction for chlorinated sanitizer and a 5.6 log reduction for ozone for P. fluorescens and equivalent to a 4.2 log reduction for chlorinated sanitizer and a 4.4 log reduction for ozone for A. faecalis. While both chlorine and ozone were able to achieve bacterial inactivation significantly above 99% percentile, ozone was found to be slightly more effective for sanitizing stainless steel surfaces in the food processing industry.

Other Benefits of Ozone in the Food Industry

The other major benefit of ozone is that it can be effectively combined with other food sanitation procedures without any adverse reaction or need to change or modify the already established procedures used to sanitize food or perform other CIP procedures on surfaces  that come in contact with the food source.

Ozonation can be used in conjunction with a hot water wash of work surfaces as well as prior to the application of chlorine or other chemicals used to sanitize work surfaces. Ozone technology is very portable and does not require more than the initial investment to purchase the equipment (ozone is generated on site using ambient air so there are no storage or shipping costs or considerations). The technology is very scalable making it available to even the smallest food processing facilities and since the storage requirements for ozone has been eliminated.

Ozone Use in The Food Industry – Conclusion.

The benefits of introducing ozone as a means of keeping the processed and packaged food free of  microbiological contamination, are well documented. Ozone has been approved by the FDA for both indirect and direct contact with handled food. Ozonation is an inexpensive, portable and very effective technology that can be used as a stand-alone method for preventing food source contamination and it may be used in conjunction with the other cleaning and sterilization processes and as well.

As such the use of ozonation technology in the food processing, packaging or any other application where food could be exposed to the contaminant, is strongly recommended.

If you have an application that requires the use of ozone and need help sizing a unit please contact an Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763.

The importance of maintaining a sterile and clean environment in the wine industry is immense. Cross contamination between batches of wine is a major concern and so is the management of the active yeast.

The yeast is a major ingredient in the fermentation process and without it the fermentation process would not occur. However, the Brettanomyces (a non-spore forming genus of yeast in the family Saccharomycetaceae) can contaminate the finished wine product and give it an undesired off-flavor.

While the Brettanomyces is a desired ingredient to some wines and according to some wine makers that rely on Brettanomyces to give their distinctive character (i.e. Château Musar), most wine producers see the Brettanomyces as a wine spoiler (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brettanomyces)

Benefits of Ozone in the Wine Making Process

It is well known fact that the best recognized wine brands often obtain their finishing palate and bouquet (distinctive trademark flavor and smell) by being stored in oak barrels as part of the aging process. To retain such distinctive flavor, it is important that those barrels be kept free of contaminants that can spoil the wine.

Use of chlorine to sanitize oak barrels is not recommended since the oak barrels will absorb the chlorine during the washing process and release it during the wine storing process therefore running the risk to spoil the batch pf wine being stored in the chlorine contaminated barrel.

Ozone is well known as being as effective as chlorine in oxidizing organic matter as well as killing any microbiological growth. However unlike chlorine, it will not leach into the oak barrels and will revert quickly back to its more stable oxygen form shortly after treatment. As such the use of ozone for washing the barrels between the batches is well preferred over the use of chlorine.

Ozone is also effective in killing the active yeast growth (Brettanomyces ) so the proper ozonation of wine barrels and other surfaces that may come in touch with the wine during the fermentation and/or storage of the wine, will help greatly reduce the development of the off-taste and spoilage of the wine.

Portability of the Ozone Equipment

The second large benefit of using ozone in the wine making industry is the portability of the ozone making equipment and technology. Ozone is typically generated on-site using ambient air and the entire ozonation skid can be made to be portable therefore allowing it to be moved from place to place without the need to disassemble or reassemble the equipment.

This portability means that even the smallest winery can easily acquire the necessary ozonation equipment and use it to aid in maintaining the proper sanitation levels of the wine making and storing equipment and facilities.

On-site Cleaning

While barrel and fermentation tank sanitation are a lesser problem because of the ready access and area to spray wash the surface, the cleaning of pipes and other infrastructure used to transfer the wine between the many vessels used within the different stages of the wine making process, is a far more delicate and complex operation. As such it is not a wonder that many wineries report the contamination to happen exactly at this stage (inside piping and other small chamber areas where proper washing and sanitation is hard to accomplish). Use of ozone for the on-site cleaning and sanitation of areas has proven more effective than any other method and the related contamination and undesired microbiological growth has been effectively eliminated.

Cleaning in place involves injecting the ozonated water inside the pipes and other small vessels typically difficult to decontaminate in any other conventional way. The ozonated water will clean and effectively decontaminate the inside of the equipment therefore preventing the cross contamination of the new batch of wine.

Sanitizing the wine making, transportation and storage equipment with about 2.5 ppm of ozone for approximately 2 to 5 minutes after the hot water wash has been applied, is a recommended practice for sanitizing (source: International Ozone Application – “Ozone in Wine Industry” publication , http://www.io3a.org).

General Area Cleaning and Sanitation

Ozone is also effective at general area cleaning and sanitation as well.

For example ozone can be used to clean common areas such as passages, catwalks and other areas used to gain access to wine making and storage equipment areas.

Using ozone to decontaminate such areas is also a very good practice and the same equipment that is used to wash the wine barrels, pipes and inside of the fermentation tanks can be used with minimal or no modification to wash and sanitize the general areas and infrastructure.

Conclusion

The benefits of using ozone in the wine making process are many. From the accessibility of the technology and portability of the ozone generating equipment to the ability to use ozone in many other processes and areas within the winery, ozone has proven to be a wine maker’s best friend.

If you require additional information about the ozone technology, engineering and design of the turn-key ozone injection skid or if you need help sizing a unit please contact your Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763.

Ozone is a very active form of oxygen. It is formed when the oxygen ( O2 ) molecules are broken down to oxygen atoms ( O). Oxygen atoms ( O ) in turn react with other oxygen molecules ( O2 ) to form ozone molecules (O3).

The simplified formula for the process is:

O2 + energy = 2 O1

2 O1 + 2 O2 + energy = 2 O3

Is ozone found in nature?

Ozone is indeed found in nature! In nature ozone is formed by lightning (largest source of naturally generated energy) and the oxygen in the air. In fact, ozone is considered to be mother nature’s air freshener as it’s that fresh smell that’s in the air after a thunder and lightning storm.

Ozone is also found in the upper stratosphere and is the main shield protecting the Earth from harmful UV radiation. Without ozone more UV radiation would reach the Earth’s surface causing the irreversible damage and harm to all living organisms exposed.

If ozone is that good for the environment why we don’t we breathe it rather than oxygen?

Ozone cannot be inhaled directly by humans, animals or any air breathing organism. The concentration of ozone that is found naturally in the lower atmosphere (where we live and breathe) is very small. Additionally, ozone is very unstable and it reverts quickly to oxygen by the reverse process through which ozone molecules were created. The ozone decomposition formula can be represented simplified as:

2 O3 = 3 O2

Is ozone technology a new technology?

Ozone has been used for centuries to treat drinking water. The first water treatment plant that used ozone to purify the water was built in Netherlands in 1893. Nice (France) was the first large city to use ozone to treat their drinking water. Los Angeles, California has the largest modern day water treatment facility using ozone technology to treat around 600 million gallons of water each day.

Where else is ozone used?

The applications of ozone span a variety of applications and industries.

Used as an alternative for chlorine and bromine in swimming pools, ozone is a very effective disinfectant, which even prevents the formation of chlorine and bromine byproducts.

For soil remediation, ozone has been used to clean up sites containing a variety of soil contaminants, including oil and fuel.

Ozone is an effective medium in controlling microbiological growth in cooling towers.

A major problem in cooling tower water treatment is legionella (legionnaires disease). In the prevention and control of legionella causing microbes, ozone has taken an eminent roll. The specific characteristics of the ozone disinfectant make sure it gets the job done where others fail.

Ozone injected to a cooling tower will also aid in the prevention of the formation of algae thus reducing fouling and increasing heat-transfer efficiency.

The benefits of ozone within the cooling tower applications are not only environmental in nature but are also helping reduce the cost of the operating and maintaining the cooling tower infrastructure therefore improving the overall bottom line.

Following is information about a few of the other applications and industries where introduction of the ozone is of great benefit:

- Aquaculture
- Agriculture
- Bottling
- Disinfection
- Electronics
- Farming
- Winery Sanitation
- Pharmaceutical
- Food Processing and Preservation
- Hydroponics
- Laundry
- Pools and Spas
- Hospitals
- Soil Remediation
- Wastewater Treatment

How is ozone generated?

To make the ozone in the large enough quantities and the high enough concentration to be useful for industrial and commercial processes the more efficient way of generating the ozone is required.

One of the most common and economical ways of generating large quantities of the industrial ozone supply is using a corona discharge (forcing the air through narrow gap in presence of high power energy field (corona discharge).

The process of ozone generation via the corona discharge can be described in two steps:

First, the feed air required to generate ozone must have the nitrogen and other trace elements removed since the air we breathe contains only about 21% oxygen and as much as 78% of nitrogen.

The oxygen concentrator removes nitrogen from the ambient air leaving almost pure oxygen to be feed to the ozone generator.

This process is by far more economical than using chemicals that need to be hauled from off-site and stored on-site until the time they are ready to be used. Ozone is generated on-site and on demand therefore eliminating the transportation and storage costs.

Since there is no residue (any residual ozone not used by the process will revert back to the more stable oxygen form without any additional requirement or intervention) ozone technology is very eco-friendly (creates virtually no pollution).

I need more information about using the ozone. Who I can contact?

If you require additional information about the ozone technology, engineering and design of the turn-key ozone injection skid or need help sizing a unit please contact your Ozmotics representative at 1-877-386-3763.

Corona discharge ozone generators typically fall into the two categories ( based on the feed gas used to generate the ozone). While some require purified oxygen, others claim to be able to operate using an ambient air feed. What are the main differences between the two and which one is the right choice for you?

Oxygen Fed Ozone Generators:

Oxygen fed ozone generators typically require an additional component called the oxygen concentrator.

The ambient atmospheric air is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon and the rest being the trace amounts of elements such as hydrogen, helium, etc. By removing the nitrogen from the air and feeding the pure oxygen (typically about 95% purity), the ozone generator is capable of producing more ozone using the same gas feed throughput compared  to ambient air fed generators.

Ambient Air Fed Ozone Generators:

The advantage of the ambient air fed ozone generators is that they are smaller, less complex and more portable. Because they do not need the oxygen concentrator as a major component, they are also cheaper to manufacture. But there are also several shortfalls of the ambient air fed ozone generator in addition to the efficiency. These include maintenance considerations and humidity.

Maintenance Considerations:

Since ambient air fed ozone generators intake air that is composed of 78% nitrogen, there is no way to stop the formation of the nitrogen oxide byproduct that will deposit on the surfaces inside the generators (corona plates, etc.). Therefore ambient fed ozone generators require much higher degrees of maintenance which in most cases involve fairly complex procedures such as tearing down your ozone generator to clean the corona plates.

While some people are OK with this shortfall, others prefer a more maintenance-free approach. Depending on how you feel about tearing down your ozone generator and re-assembling it, you may or may not want to look at purchasing the ambient air fed ozone generator.

There may also be some health hazards associated with the cleaning process of the nitrous oxides inside the ozone generators since the nitrous oxides are known to react with the water forming the highly corrosive nitric acid. Therefore the appropriate protective wear is highly recommended when servicing or cleaning the nitrogen oxide deposits inside your ozone generator.

Humidity:

Ambient air fed ozone generators must be fed with relatively dry air. The nitrous oxide dissolves in water to form nitric acid. Nitric acid (HNO3), also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid that can cause severe burns (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitric_acid ). Therefore the humidity must be eliminated from the feed air before it enters the ozone generator.

The air dryer is usually incorporated into the oxygen concentrator design so in most cases you do not need to worry about having it if you are using the oxygen fed ozone generator.

Conclusion:

While air fed ozone generators are typically less expensive they require a lot more maintenance than the oxygen fed ozone generators. However because of the extra added oxygen concentrator unit, the oxygen fed ozone generators are typically larger, bulkier and more expensive to initially purchase.

Selecting the proper model and proper technology would require understanding the application where the ozone generator will be installed, inherent health risks associated with the technology as well as maintenance preferences of the end-user and operator that will be using the technology.

A proper research and planning is usually recommended before deciding which unit and what technology to select and purchase.