With its strong oxidizing property, ozone disinfection and sterilization has been more and more widely applied in agricultural products processing, storage and preservation, animal husbandry and aquaculture industry, medical and health field, laundry industry, chemical and pharmaceutical field, drinking water disinfection and sterilization, sewage treatment and family disinfection, etc.

The two main types of ozone sterilization equipment are ozone generators and ozone water generators. An ozone generator uses ozone gas to disinfect, sterilize and remove odors from the air and the surface of objects in the space. An ozone water generator is a machine that makes use of the property of ozone’s solubility in water. It dissolves ozone gas generated by an ozone generator within the machine into water through a high-efficiency gas-liquid mixing pump. Ozone water has the same strong oxidizing property, disinfection and sterilization effect as ozone gas, so it can also achieve the effect of disinfection and preservation.

Ozone’s Sterilization Effect

Through its strong oxidizing property, ozone molecules can destroy the microorganism membrane of bacteria and viruses, so as to achieve the purpose of disinfection and sterilization. Ozone has a rapid sterilization effect, which can kill a variety of bacteria and viruses such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, etc. According to the experiment, at 15 degrees Celsius, with 73% air humidity, ozone gas with concentration at 0.08-0.6 ppm has killing rates at 99.7% on Escherichia coli, 89.8% on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 99.9% on Staphylococcus aureus. The sterilization effect of ozone water solution is equally powerful and extremely fast. According to an experiment, ozone water solution at a concentration of 0.3mg/L can reach a killing rate at 100% on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in 1 minute. Compared with other chemical disinfectants, ozone sterilization has the advantage that it produces no harmful residues in the process. The ozone gas left over during the sterilization process will quickly return to oxygen.

Structure of an Ozone Water Generator

The basic structure of an ozone water generator consists of an ozone generator, an oxygen generator, a gas-liquid mixing pump, an ozone off-gas destructor, high pressure power supply, and a control system. The oxygen generator provides the ozone generator with high purity oxygen, and the gas-liquid mixing pump dissolves the ozone gas into water.

Applications of Ozone Water Generators

1. Sterilization and Disinfection

Ozone water generators are suitable for the sterilization and disinfection of tableware, toys, and other items used by restaurants, hotels, kindergartens, etc. Experiments have shown that 98% of bacteria will be killed after 10 seconds of disinfection with ozone water at 5 ppm. Ozone water can be used to sterilize the surface of raw materials in food and pharmaceutical factories. Fruits need to be washed with ozone water to ensure sterility before it is made into juice. Similarly, various kinds of aquatic products need to be sterilized with ozone water to avoid excessive chloride before packaging. High concentration ozone water can also be used to sterilize production equipment and containers in these factories. Compared with other chemical disinfectants, ozone water will be more suitable for the disinfection under these circumstances just because it is residue free.

2. Degradation of Pesticide Chemicals

In canteens, fruit and vegetable processing plants and food processing plants, ozone water can efficiently decompose pesticides, fertilizers, food additives, and other chemical components left on fruits and vegetables. According to an experiment, after being soaked in ozone water at a concentration of 3 gm/L for 30 minutes and cultivation for 8 hours, 100% of captan, 76% of diazinon, and 96% of DDVP on the bean sprouts will degrade.

3. Preservation of Vegetables and Fruits

The preservation of vegetables and fruits is always a difficult job. When in storage, vegetables and fruits will release ethylene and carbonic acid gas which result in the acceleration of ripeness and aging. When used for sterilization, ozone can also effectively slow down the metabolism of vegetables and fruits, so as to play a role in keeping fresh. Studies have shown that the storage period of vegetables and fruits can be prolonged by 3-10 times when ozone water is used for the washing.

4. Washing Clothing

Ozone water is an ideal choice for washing clothes in hotels, sauna and steam rooms, hospitals, pharmaceutical factories, and food processing plants, etc. The strong oxidizing property of ozone provides ozone with strong cleaning ability. This not only helps clothes cleaners to work better, but also reduces the amount of chemical washing products used. This will help to reduce the environmental impact of chlorine contained in chemical detergents. Ozone is effective in breaking down and removing oil stains from clothing that cannot be removed with regular washing products. In addition, for washing clothes, sheets, and bedclothes used in hospitals that poses a risk of transmission of diseases, the use of ozone water can reduce the use of conventional detergents and hot water. This can not only ensure the effective sterilization of the clothing and beddings, but also prolong their service life.

5. Water Treatment

Tap water often contains chlorinated organics such as chloroform, bromodichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride, as well as heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which are produced after disinfection with chlorine. Ozone can break down these organics and oxidizes heavy metals while retaining useful trace elements and minerals. Ozone water generators can also provide sterile water for home use. The use of ozone water in swimming pools can reduce eye and skin irritation from residual chlorine in tap water.

Adding ozone water into industrial water can effectively inhibit the growth of algae, which will achieve the disinfection and purity of the water.

In breeding industry, ozone water can be used not only to disinfect breeding sites and equipment, but also remove pathogenic bacteria, viruses, protozoa and other microorganisms in the drinking water for livestock. This can help to prevent the animals from developing infectious diseases.

The above are just a few of many areas where ozone water generators are used. Presently, ozone applications are in rapid development. In the future, with people’s environmental awareness and popularity of different types of ozone equipment, the application of ozone will continue to extend.