Ozone for Water Treatment
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What is Ozone & Ozone treatment :
Ozone is a natural component of the earth’s upper atmosphere where it is primarily formed photo chemically. It contains three atoms of oxygen (O3) instead of the usual two found in normal oxygen (O2) that is essential for life. It can be recognized by the clean, fresh odour of air after an electrical thunderstorm, which is the result of low levels of ozone gas produced by lightning.
Additionally, ozone is the strongest commercially available disinfectant, yet very safe, and over 3000 times faster than chlorine for purifying water and is more effective for elimination of e.coli, Gardia, Legionnella and Cryptosporidium.
Ozone is the second most powerful oxidant known and the naturally occurring level not only protects all life from the harmful effects of solar ultraviolet radiation but also is very effective at destroying bacteria, viruses and odours.
Ozone has been commercially used since 1893 when the first full-scale drinking water treatment application was implemented.
Today, it is used in thousands of water treatment applications including the treatment of municipal water and wastewater, cooling towers, ultra pure water, marine aquaria, beverage industries, industrial process water, swimming pools, bottled water plants, aquaculture, food processing and effluent treatment.
Apart from destroying all known bacteria, viruses, fungi and mould in any water it is used to treat, ozone also removes iron, manganese, heavy metals, cyanide, phenols and Sulphides, as well as soaps, oils and greases and it controls the taste, colour and odour of water.
How does Ozone work ?
The ozone gas molecule O3 is unstable allowing it to readily decay into O2 thereby releasing a single oxygen atom that is highly reactive. When the ozone comes into contact with an odour or a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) an oxygen atom splits off from the ozone molecule and reacts with the odour or VOC, oxidizing it into harmless and non-odorous substances that are predominantly CO2 and H2O. The ozone will also react with certain surfaces. When it comes into contact with a bacteria or a virus, the oxygen reacts with the cell membrane. Initially the ozone attacks the Glycoproteins, Glycolipids and certain amino acids such as Trytophan in the bacterial membrane. It also acts upon the Sulfhydral groups and some enzymes resulting in the disruption of normal cellular activity. Bacteria
Uses of Ozone
These are some of the common uses of Ozone:
- Drinking water supplies
- Horticultural & hydroponics water supplies
- Dairy & poultry farm water supplies
- Iron & Manganese removal systems
- Mineral water bottling plants
- Ice making machines
- Winery water supplies
- Air conditioning cooling towers
- Domestic & commercial swimming pools
- Domestic & commercial spa pools
- Domestic sewage treatment plants
- Commercial waste water treatment plants
- De-odourisation & purification of air
Benefits of using Ozone
- Replace the use of chemicals for the control of waterborne fungal disease.
- Pathogens will not develop a tolerance to Ozone
- Ozone leaves behind a residual of dissolved oxygen, which is available to be taken up by the plants.
- The reduced use of chemicals and the abundance of dissolved oxygen, results in plants that are better able to withstand diseases introduced from other sources.
- Ozone is produced on-site, from electricity and the oxygen in the air.
- Ozone is not dependant upon the clarity of the water for its operation, and water does not require expensive pre-filtering.
- Ozone is not dependant upon the pH of the water for its effectiveness, nor will it affect the pH of the water by its use.
- Ozone will NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DISSOLVED NUTRIENTS.
- The reduction of fungicides often results in less stress on delicate plant roots, leading to increased growth.
- By treating water-borne fungi, Ozone avoids the destruction of beneficial soil borne fungi that encourage plant growth and the uptake of nutrients.
- The use of Ozone in hydroponics can be controlled and administered at selected times. Because Ozone is resident in the water for only a short time, it can be “turned ON & OFF”
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