How does Ozone treatment cope with environmental problems
Introduction
Ozone is an unstable gas that lasts for a short period of time, which is millisecond under typical circumstances. It comprises three molecules of oxygen that gives ozone its high oxidation capabilities. It reverts to oxygen, which is the base form that defines this gas. The use of ozone has been popular since the 1800s, and is seen as a far better alternative to chlorine, which is also used in water treatment plants including swimming pools and sewage systems. Ozone has seen a wider use in food preservation, air purification, sanitation in hospitals such as odour removal and bacterial treatment including water treatment. Its use is much more popular in Asia and Europe than the United States of America (USA). Can you recall a pungent odour in the air after a heavy thunderstorm? That is infact ozone!
Ozone Treatment and the Environment
Ozone combats environmental issues much more efficient than its alternative chlorine.
Water contamination is one of the most critical environmental issues the world is combating today. It is also a scarce natural resource, which makes the issue of water treatment critical. One of the primary advantages of ozone in water treatment is its ability to address de-coloration and deodorization. For many years now, ozone has been used in the treatment of bottled water along with water disinfectant treatment.
Ozone breaks down odour causing particles, eliminates bad smell including complex compounds that is responsible for the colour of the water. It oxidises sulphur, manganese, iron present in water and converts them into insoluble metal oxides, which is then filtered out.
Its ability to prevent the growth of moulds as well as yeast makes it a formidable choice in the food industry, where shelf time is less.
Another advantage of using ozone in the treatment of pathogens and compounds is that it does not call for addition of other chemicals to the mix. However, it does require specific mixing techniques unlike chlorine, which is comparatively far more easily soluble in water.
When ozone is mixed in the water, it can be sprayed on surfaces to disinfect the area. Since it is soluble, ozone treatment does not leave behind any residues. Further, because ozone can be produced only onsite, there is no need for any personnel to handle, mix, and dissolve any chemicals. Using water treated with ozone also removed biofilm, which are microorganisms that are stuck together creating a slimy texture over time.
Ozone is created using electrical discharge such as UV ozonation process, or a corona discharge, where dry air is passed through a high electric voltage. Corona discharge is used for treating larger systems, while UV ozonation has been found to be effective in treating smaller quantities of waste.
The use of ozone has also found to be highly reliable across a wide pH range. It breaks down cell walls making it easy to filter it or dissolve the pathogen. As a result, treated water is clean and has a lighter microbial presence. Ozone technology is here to stay for the overall benefits in the food industry also.












