Ozone is tri-atomic oxygen. It exists in nature within the stratosphere from a height of 10 km to 50 km. In the stratosphere, small amounts of ozone are constantly being made by the action of the sun’s UV light on oxygen molecules. An oxygen molecule absorbs the sun’s UV radiation and split to form single oxygen atoms. These atoms combine with the remaining oxygen (O2) molecules to form ozone (O3) molecules, which are very effective at absorbing the sun’s UV rays.

At ground level, ozone is formed as a result of lightning. Ozone is also formed from the pollution from burning fossil fuel which creates smoke and carbon monoxide, and lightning creates nitrogen oxides (NOx). All of these chemicals combined together with unstable compounds and in the presence of sunlight forms ozone as a by-product.

Ozone at atmospheric conditions is very unstable. Due to this unstable nature, it reduces to oxygen within a very short span of 60 mints. in air and 20 mints. in water. This reduction reaction releases one atom of oxygen which acts as a very powerful oxidizing agent and, as a result, a very powerful disinfectant. Ozone level of 0.4 ppm of 4 minutes has been shown to kill any bacteria, virus, mold, and fungus. In the case of polio, only 0.012 ppm removes all viruses less than 10 seconds.

Ozone destroys all the waterborne pathogens & also helps to reduce some of the organics present in the water. Also, the harmful by-products of reaction with other disinfectants like chlorine are avoided by substituting with ozone. Ozone is 300 times more powerful disinfectant than chlorine.

 

OZONE IN BOTTLE QUALITY WATER

 

Today, ozone has become an essential part of any bottled water treatment process; and has become almost unthinkable to put up a packaged drinking water plant without including the ozonation stage at the end of the treatment line, just before packaging the water. Ozone destroys all the waterborne pathogens and also helps to reduce some of the organics present in the water.

Besides purifying the water, it is essential to maintain some amount of residual ozone in water before packaging. This helps in sterilizing the bottles or the jars in which the water is being packaged. Since the half life of ozone in pure water is 20 mints., there is hardly any residual ozone in water after a while of packaging the water. As a result the water is free from any form of toxicity which is associated with other disinfectants which are present in the water. Also the harmful by-products of reaction with other disinfectants like chlorine are avoided by substituting with ozone. Hence ozone treated water is absolutely safe to drink. This makes ozone the most sought after disinfectant for packaged drinking water treatment.