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Ozone Use
Ozone is one of the most useful, ecologically
sensible substances on planet earth. In it’s “raw” form in nature, it is
essential for all life on this planet. Without the Ozone layer, we wouldn’t
exist. Ozone is Mother Nature’s supreme disinfection and cleansing agent. It is
a superior oxidizer and sanitizer and works much faster than chlorine. Chlorine
replacement is one of the chief uses of Ozone.
Ozone is an advanced form of Oxygen that is applied in industries
including aquaculture, odor control, medical treatments, disinfection, home
remediation, dentistry, manufacturing, swimming pools, laboratories, hospitals,
zoological, municipal water treatment and numerous others. It has been in
constant use since it’s discovery over 100 years ago. It can be used to
complement or replace chlorine. In applications where no chlorine is a must,
Ozone is the technology of choice.
Applications
Applied properly, Ozone is a very useful substance. It is also
one of the most studied technologies on the planet. The key phrase is "applied
properly". The use (and misuse) of Ozone is rampant. As with
any technology, there are situations where Ozone can accomplish a great deal.
And while Ozone systems are for the most part mechanically quite simple, the
science and chemistry behind proper Ozone application is often more challenging.
For chlorine replacement or in situations where chlorine is not acceptable,
Ozone can be used effectively.
In any Ozone application, you must understand the basic operating
chemistry and reaction kinetics in order to properly apply the technology. What are some
of the glaring examples of the misuse of Ozone? We have seen situations where a
larger Ozone generating system of 60 grams/hr. output was coupled to an
inadequate water contacting system. When measured, the actual Ozone dissolved in
the water was equivalent to 4 grams/hr. By not understanding the correct Ozone
concentration to water volume kinetics, the system essentially wasted 56
grams/hr. of Ozone because it did not have the capacity to dissolve it.
Obviously, chlorine replacement in this situation was hampered.
In what appeared a very straightforward application, the system
designers failed to understand the correct Ozone concentration vs. water volume
to effectively utilize the capacity of the Ozone system. The owners of this
system could have easily reported that Ozone "failed" and that somehow basic
Ozone chemistry does not work. Chlorine would have been the fallback position.
Ozone Chemistry
However, Ozone chemistry is well understood. In situations where we
have seen a "failure" of Ozone, it is usually the misapplication of this very
useful, environmentally friendly technology that is to blame, rather than
whether Ozone "works" or does not work. In cases where Ozone is seen
not to work, it is
usually an ignorance of the basic operating parameters of this technology and/or
not understanding the reaction kinetics involved that lead to system failure. In
instances where Ozone is the correct technology and where it has been applied
without problems, Ozone offers numerous advantages over chemical-based
technologies. For no Chlorine or limited chlorine situations, Ozone is the
sanitizer of choice.
Envron - Separating Ozone Fact From Fiction
Our goal at Envron is to separate the Ozone fiction
from the Ozone facts. Because this technology is one of the most studied
technologies on the planet, it is doubtful you are coming up with a "new" use of
Ozone. Chances are, someone has already applied (and studied) Ozone for what you
are attempting to accomplish. If you truly have a unique application for Ozone, we can
assist in establishing a pilot study to see whether this technology can be
used in your situation. In general principles, Ozone can replace most Oxidizers
on the market and bring you a total cost savings. These include oxidants such as
chlorine, flouride, Hydrogen Peroxide and others.
What are some of the things you'll need to consider to apply
Ozone and gain these advantages? The first is a sound understanding of Ozone
reaction kinetics. Whether this is for Ozone in air or water applications, there
are certain "rules" that cannot be violated without inviting disaster. Keeping
an Ozone system running so that it is producing enough Ozone to do the job is
essential as is a properly constructed reaction system. Especially in chlorine
replacement situations. This must take into
consideration the operating environment of the system and the mechanics of the
reactor. It is one thing to produce Ozone and, as we have seen from our example
above, another thing to utilize the Ozone effectively and efficiently to
accomplish objectives.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions about
this technology. We'll be happy to assist you in your search for the proper
application of this extremely useful technology. |
Envron
Ozone 
