What is ozone? And how do we use it?

Ozone, or O3, as it is commonly called, is primarily formed and concentrated within the stratospheric layer of our atmosphere. You probably know it as the “Ozone Layer”. The creation of ozone is caused by the absorption of short wavelength ultraviolet radiation by oxygen molecules in the stratosphere. As the oxygen molecules (O2) are exposed to these energy fields, they dissociate and split, forming atoms (O1). These wandering oxygen atoms then recombine with other O2 molecules in the air stream, forming ozone (O3).

How is it used?

Ozone is the most powerful oxidizer commercially available that can be safely used in water treatment. Ozone is used in many applications including:

• Drinking water
• Swimming pool water
• Waste water
• Food and beverage processing water
• Commercial laundry
• Odor Control and Air Purification

For more examples go to our Applications page

Ozone is also highly effective in performing the following water treatment functions:

• Disinfection – Bacterial disinfection, and the inactivation of viruses and cysts.
• Oxidation of Inorganics – Precipitates iron, manganese, sulfides, nitrites and organically bound heavy metals.
• Oxidation of Organics – Including organics causing color, taste and odor problems, some detergents and pesticides, phenols, VOCs, turbidity control and micro flocculation of soluble organics.

The life span of ozone is pretty short lived, typically around 30 minutes or so in water, which in turn, requires that ozone be generated on site and used promptly after creation in order to be effective. Ozone generators are manufactured in various sizes, each of which is dependent on the quality and quantity of the water to be treated. The smaller the application, the smaller the ozone generator. The larger the application, the larger the generator needed.
For a detailed list of our ozone generators and their features check out our Products page

- Authored by Juli Watt, Marketing Communications, ClearWater Tech, LLC

Why Doesn’t Everyone Use Ozone As An Oxidizer?

So if ozone is so great, why aren’t more industries using it? Well, despite the fact that ozone is a part of nature, and that countries in Europe have been using it for water purification for over 50 years, it’s still not well-known. It’s slowly gaining more attention, although on a whole, most people are unaware of the technology. Here are some of the reasons we’ve observed over the years:

It Must be too Good to be True

Disbelief is one of the first responses we get from potential customers. Some companies may market their equipment well, but build poorly designed systems. Ozone gets a bad rap and loses creditability. With the advancement of the technology, more industry members are getting involved – And seeing results!

Expense of Equipment

“It’s too expensive…..it’s too complicated. Alternative methods are easier and cheaper.” This may of been the case years ago, but not any more. It is becoming more of a competitive market so it’s more affordable. Most systems usually have an ROI within a year.

Chemicals are Less Expensive

Sure they are, and they smell, taste awful, dry your skin, burn your eyes, nose and throat, and can adversely affect your health in the long run. And they have to be handled on site, unlike ozone… Ozone offers an environmentally-friendly and socially acceptable disinfection that does not require the storage of large volumes of hazardous chemicals.

NOTE: Ozone can be dangerous if handled incorrectly, (so can your car). You must respect the oxidative powers of ozone and treat it accordingly. There are many products on the market that can be used in connection with an ozone generator to control the off gas. It needs to noted, no one has ever died from the use of ozone. The same can not be said about ammonia, chlorine gas, hydrogen sulfide and many other common chemicals.

Ozone-treated water isn’t something new. The applications are endless and the technology continues to make incredible strides replacing low-cost chemicals for sanitation. It is safe for the environment and is GREEN. For details, go to our Earthsafe page and read more.

Ozone Regulatory Milestones

• 1982 FDA approved for bottled water
• 1986 CT values adopted by the EPA
• 1996 USDA approved as a disinfectant
• 1997 Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by FDA and USDA
• 2001 FDA approved as an antimicrobial agent on food
• 2004 Approved USDA Nat’l Organic Program – Standard 7 C.F. R. Part 205-605

- Authored by Juli Watt, Marketing Communications, ClearWater Tech, LLC