Oxygen is one of the indispensable elements for the survival of human beings, animals and plants on the earth. But do you know that there is another thing that has been silently providing effective protection for our survival, continuation and development on the earth? It is the ozone layer composed of ozone, which works like a protective umbrella absorbing the strong ultraviolet radiation of the sun outside the atmosphere 15-25 kilometers above the earth surface and providing us with a livable living environment.

Oxygen (O2) is an element composed of two oxygen molecules, while ozone (O3) is composed of three oxygen molecules, just like the “brother” of oxygen. Ozone is the product of the ionization of oxygen molecules by ultraviolet light, and it is named because of its unique fishy smell. It is also sometimes called triatomic oxygen or super oxygen.

Ozone has strong oxidizing and bactericidal properties, and is one of the strongest oxidants in nature. Its redox potential in water is second only to fluorine. In actual use, ozone shows outstanding effect in sterilization, disinfection and degradation of pesticides, and is an efficient broad-spectrum fungicide.

Ozone can oxidatively denature the protein shell of bacteria, fungi and other bacteria and can kill bacterial propagules and spores, viruses, fungi, etc. The killing rate of common Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. is more than 99%. Ozone can also kill hepatitis viruses, cold viruses, etc., and healthy cells have a strong balanced enzyme system, so ozone is very effective in killing bacteria. On the contrary, ozone is harmless to healthy cells.

Ozone can sterilize and purify the air. diffuse quickly and evenly in the indoor air and disinfect without dead ends. It can prevent cross infection of diseases and remove odors in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. Ozone gas has the functions of sterilization, disinfection, mildew proof, and dust mites on indoor bedding, clothing, carpets, wardrobes, shoe cabinets, coins, etc.

The most effective way to use ozone is to dissolve it in water. The oxidizing power of ozone water is more than twice that of chlorine and the sterilization rate is more than 600 times that of chlorine. Ozone water can sterilize and disinfect underwear, panties, diapers, wraps, etc. used by women and children and play a particularly obvious role in health care. Ozone water can sterilize fruits, vegetables and meat, preserve freshness, and remove peculiar smells. At the same time, it has the function of degrading the residual phosphorus-containing pesticides on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Ozone water can cleanse the skin, maintain the skin and reduce the irritation of cosmetics to the skin. Using ozone water in cold compress, soaking burns, cuts, bruises, can accelerate wound healing and prevent infection. Washing with ozone water can prevent beriberi caused by skin diseases and fungi. Washing hair with ozone water can remove dirt from the pores of the hair and reduce hair loss.

Over the years, ozone products have been widely used in families, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, beauty salons, public toilets, food processing industries, schools, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, offices, entertainment venues, industry, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, environmental protection and other fields.

How an ozone generator works

According to the way of ozone generation, there are three main types of ozone generators: high voltage discharge type, ultraviolet irradiation type and electrolysis type.

1. High voltage discharge ozone generator

This type of ozone generator uses a high-voltage current of a certain frequency to create a high-voltage corona electric field, which makes the oxygen molecules in or around the electric field electrochemically react, thereby producing ozone.

This kind of ozone generator has the advantages of mature technology, stable operation, long service life, and single-unit ozone output can reach more than 1Kg/h. It is the most widely used ozone generator in related industries at home and abroad.

In the high-voltage discharge ozone generator, it is divided into the following types.

1. According to the high-voltage electric frequency of the generator, there are three kinds of power frequency (50-60Hz), intermediate frequency (400-1000Hz) and high frequency (1000Hz). Due to the disadvantages of large size and high power consumption, power frequency generators have basically withdrawn from the market. Medium and high frequency generators have the advantages of smaller size, lower power consumption and larger ozone output and are the most commonly used products.

2. According to the gas source being used, above generators are divided into two types: oxygen source and air source types. Oxygen source type is usually supplied by oxygen cylinder or oxygen generator. As the oxygen purity of bottled or oxygen generator is above 90%, so the ozone concentration of oxygen generator is higher. The air source type usually uses clean and dry compressed air as raw material. Since the oxygen content in the air is only 21%, the ozone concentration generated by the air source generator is lower.

2. Ultraviolet ozone generator

This type of ozone generator uses ultraviolet rays of a specific wavelength (185mm) to irradiate oxygen molecules to decompose the oxygen molecules to generate ozone. Due to the large size of the UV lamp tube, low ozone production and short service life, this kind of generator has a narrow range of use and is commonly used in cupboard disinfection.

3. Electrolytic ozone generator

At present, the technology of PEM (polymer electrolytic membrane) electrolytic ozone generator is relatively mature and widely used at home and abroad. This generator conducts low-voltage direct current through the deionized water at the positive and negative poles of the special solid-state membrane electrode, so that the water loses electrons on the special anode interface to separate hydrogen and oxygen, and oxygen obtains energy and aggregates into ozone under the action of high-density current. This generator can produce high-purity (100%) high-concentration (20%) ozone with low manufacturing cost, simple use and maintenance. However, due to the small size of the ozone electrode, the output of ozone cannot be increased and its scope of use is limited.

In addition, a new type of electrolytic ozone generator that does not require PEM polymer electrolyte membrane and uses tap water as raw material has recently been developed. This product directly conducts low-voltage direct current through the anode and cathode electrodes, and electrolyzes the hydrogen and oxygen molecules of water molecules into hydrogen and ozone. Hydrogen is discharged in the form of large bubbles, and ozone is fully dissolved in water in the form of fine bubbles for use. The ozone generated by this ozone generator is relatively pure, the ozone concentration is controllable, the electrode structure is simple. As cheap tap water can be directly electrolyzed into ozone water and as the cost of use is much lower this type of electrolytic ozone generator can be easily fixed to household disinfection equipment and the prospect of popularization and application is very broad.

Ozone Safety

Ozone can be automatically reduced to oxygen at room temperature, and its decomposition half-life is about 15 to 30 minutes in the air at normal temperature and normal pressure. The decomposition rate of ozone in aqueous solution is faster than that in gas phase and its decomposition half-life in water is related to temperature and PH value. Since the product of ozone reaction is oxygen, ozone is an efficient oxidant without secondary pollution. The use of ozone as a disinfectant for sterilization does not contain any residual substances, which solves the problem of secondary pollution remaining during the disinfection of the disinfectant and at the same time saves the need for recleaning after disinfection.

The existence of ozone in the low-altitude atmosphere is mainly generated by the activation of part of the oxygen in the air by ultraviolet rays. When the ozone content in the air exceeds 0.02ppm, we can smell its odor, and as the concentration increases, the ozone odor increases. Under good air conditions, the ozone concentration generated by ultraviolet light cannot reach the order of magnitude above 1 mg/L, on the contrary, it will bring benefits to human health.

Note: The source of this article is the Internet