Ozone Basics

The ozone industry is growing faster than ever, and ozone is constantly being implemented in new applications.

How Ozone Works

Because of the way that ozone reverts back to oxygen over time, ozone cannot be delivered in tanks. Instead, ozone is typically produced on-site by an ozone generator.

Ozone Generators

Ozone generators produce ozone by adding energy to oxygen molecules (O₂), which cause the oxygen atoms to part ways and temporarily recombine with other O₂ molecules creating ozone (O₃).

Ozone in Action

Once ozone is produced it reacts with a pollutant, often long-chain carbon (organic) molecules, and breaks it down into less complex (and typically less harmful) molecules through a process called oxidation.

Safety

Ozone is attractive as an alternative to chemical processes like chlorine, which present significant safety challenges. Exposure to ozone has not been shown to present long-term health problems. In fact, the USDA and FDA have approved ozone for use with food meant for human consumption.

However, there are several governmental regulations regarding the use of ozone in a workplace. For example:

• OSHA requires that ozone levels around workers remain below 0.1 ppm
• OSHA requires that an ambient ozone monitor be in use for generators that produce more than 5 g/hr.
• The USDA and FDA regulate how ozone may be used in food.

Click here for more information about the USDA and FDA.
Click here for more information about OSHA.

In any ozone implementation where humans are present, it is important to make sure there is proper ventilation and/or ozone destruction.