The Ozmotics Insider

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.

BTEX is a common acronym used to describe benzene, toluene ethyl benzene, and xylenes. BTEX compounds are some of the most commonly VOC (volatile organic compounds) found in petroleum derivatives such as gasoline and are often found as a persistent contaminants in the areas prone to gasoline and gasoline derivative spills (old gas stations, gasoline storage yards, refineries, etc.).

The inherent danger of BTEX is that toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes are very toxic substances with the documented history of harmful effects on the central nervous system. Because of the solubility of the majority of the BTEX components they are also prone to leaching into the underground waterways therefore polluting much wider area than the original contamination site. As such the decontamination of soils and ground water contaminated with the BTEX traces is strongly recommended.

Ozone is well known oxidizer able to decompose most of the complex organic substances to the less harmful basic elements from which the complex substance is derived. In case of the BTEX, this is the hydrogen and carbon. Through further reaction the hydrogen is used to create water and the carbon is either left in its pure state or further synthesized in carbon dioxide.

In-Situ soil and ground water remediation – Ozone Sparging.

In-situ ozonation of the BTEX contaminated soil and ground water has shown promising results in removing BTEX without the need to remove the contaminated soil for off-site remediation. Also referred to as “ozone sparging” the technology involves injecting the ozone deep inside the contaminated ground where it comes into the contact with the BTEX contaminants therefore starting the process of the decomposition.

In documented research studies and reviews of the data from projects where the ozone sparging has been successfully used for the soil and water remediation, the contamination of BTEX in the soil and surrounding ground water has been successfully reduced by as much as 90% within the first five weeks of the treatment and as much as 98% + reduced by the week seven or eight of the treatment.

Ozone for soil and ground water remediation – Conclusion.

Because the soil does not have to be removed or decontaminated off-site and because the ozone leaves virtually no byproduct traces (unlike chemical treatment), the in-situ ozone sparging is both an economical (saves money) and effective solution (98% or higher contaminant removal rate) for soil and ground water remediation of sites contaminated with the BTEX and other petroleum derivatives).

Therefore the in-situ ozone sparging is highly recommended in treatment of the BTEX and petrol derivative contaminated soil and ground water.

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