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Common Applications
Ozone is a very powerful chemical oxidizing agent
and a very powerful disinfectant. It has the unique feature of decomposing
to a harmless, nontoxic, environmentally safe material being oxygen.
These characteristics make ozone exceptionally suitable for the
treatment of drinking water, wastewater and for the disinfections
of high purity de-ionized water used in the pharmaceutical industry
and in the manufacturing of integrated circuits in the electronics
industry.
Ozone for Drinking Water
In municipal drinking water treatment, at least
thirteen hundred water treatment plants throughout the world utilize
ozone to produce a high quality of drinking water for the population
of such cities as Los Angeles, Dallas, Montreal, Paris, Zurich,
Dusseldorf, Budapest, and Moscow etc…. Ozone is used in these
plants to remove taste and odour, turbidity, iron and manganese,
to oxidize dissolved organic pollutants and to disinfect the water.
Wastewater Applications
In wastewater treatment, ozone can be used to
oxidize and destroy certain organic pollutants, such as phenols,
cyanides etc… to increase the biodegradability of long lasting
pollutants or to disinfect the wastewater already treated by other
methods, such as biological oxidation in a conventional sewage treatment
plant.
In the chemical industry,
ozone is used to produce industrial chemical
and chemical intermediates. There are many other widely varying
uses of zone in the textile, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, specialty
chemicals and plastics industries as well as swimming pools, cooling
towers, marine aquariums etc.. In some countries, ozone is also
used for the treatment of certain diseases such as circulatory disorders,
gangrene etc.
Pool and Spa ozone
treatments are used throughout the world. The implementation significantly
reduces chlorine or bromine use, eliminates chlorine smells and,
provides a healthier and more chemically stable pool or spa. For
the 3-4% of the population that have allergic reactions to chlorine
and for frequent swimmers concerned with the long term health effects
of disinfection by-products and their potential for causing cancer,
an ozone system can provide the answer.
Mustiness, mould, smoke,
animal odours and other contaminants smells can be treated
on a one-time basis in the absence of the homeowner. Portable ozone
units of the appropriate size are normally recommended.
Why is Ozone Used
Ozone is used today for THM control, enhanced coagulation,
pesticide removal, and oxidation of TOC, TCE, and PCE. It continues
to be used as well in traditional roles for the oxidation of iron
and manganese, taste and odor control and color reduction. Ozone
systems are being retrofitted for the inactivation of Giardia and
Cryptosporidium cysts.
The Future for Ozone
In 1997 the U.S. EPA formally recognized the
International Ozone Association as a stakeholder in the rule making
process and appointed IOA representatives to full voting membership
on an advisory committee. EPA then established a Small Systems Committee,
again appointed IOA as a stakeholder representative, and listed
ozone as a technology which can be used by small water treatment
systems (those serving fewer than 10,000 people). The future for
ozone is very bright indeed.
Sewage Treatment
Ozone has been successfully applied in a wide variety of
domestic, marine and municipal sewage applications. It is typically
used in the final wastewater treatment phase where it is effective
in the removal of microorganisms. Ozone disinfection can also be
applied to tertiary effluents to achieve WHO microbial guidelines
(1000 CFU/100m1 for Faecal Coliform) for unrestricted wastewater
reuse in agriculture.
Ozonation contributes to the removal of organic matter
and it can affect effluent quality by reducing COD, colour, and
absorbance at 254 nm without creating measurable toxicity. Ozone
disinfection kinetics are very fast, and can be substantially completed
in about 5 minutes. A 2 minute Hydraulic Retention Time at a sufficient
transferred ozone dose will provide inactivation of faecal bacteria.
Log inactivation values are from about 3 to 4. As a result, ozone
is a highly effective oxidant and an alternative to chlorine or
UV irradiation.
A Powerful Weapon
Ozone has been recognized for its effectiveness as a disinfectant
for over 100 years. Only recently, however, have new technologies
allowed the previous barriers preventing more extensive deployment
of this powerful technology to be overcome.
Commercial Laundry
Ozone has been used as an oxidant in water and
air purification for over 100 years. Our new advanced technology
makes the application of ozone in the laundry wash cycle a practical
reality. Find out why you should be using Simpson's environmentally
friendly technology in your laundry room.
- Whiter, Fluffier Linens that Smell Fresh. The evidence
is definitely in the look, feel and smell. The Simpson laundry system
prevents residue buildup in the fabric, leaving fibers soft and
resilient.
- Lower Chemical Costs. Ozone can reduce the need for detergents
by over 50%.
- Reduced Energy Costs. The Aqua Clean system can reduce hot water
usage, resulting in a significant saving in energy costs.
- Lower Water and Sewer Costs. With fewer washes and rinses required
by the system a 20% to 40% savings in water and sewer costs can
be achieved.
- Employee Health Improved. Employee complaints of skin rashes,
cracking, dryness and insensitivity caused by harsh soaps, chlorine
bleaches and cleaning agents are eliminated.
- A Powerful Sterilizing Agent. Ozone kills all bacteria and some
over 3000 times faster than chlorine. Ozone destroys viruses, eradicates
odors and removes soil.
- A Green Technology. The Ozone is consumed in the wash any excess
reverts to oxygen. It has no downstream negative consequences for
the environment. In fact, ozone has a positive effect since ozonation
leads to a reduction in the foaming ability of the detergent, a
reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and it decolourizes the
wastewater.
- Extended Linen Life. With wash cycles shortened, linens look better
and last longer.
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