Ozone is an unstable gas with a very short half-life, which means that it reacts and disappears very fast. Ozone exists naturally in the atmosphere where it is a vital gas that protects us from harmful UV radiation. The highest concentration of ozone is found in the stratosphere, which is also called the ozone layer.

Ground-level ozone is a greenhouse gas and can be harmful to the environment due to its high oxidation potential. Ground-level ozone is created as a reaction from certain air pollutants and sun light (UV light), called the photolysis reaction. The highest levels of ground-level ozone are found in heavily polluted cities.

Ozone produced by ozone generators is harmless to the environment.

Why is ozone oxidation the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to clean and treat water?

Ozone oxidation is by far the most effective water-treatment process. It is also the most ecologically sound process, because ozone is a natural gas that breaks down into oxygen within a short period of time.

What makes ozone this effective is its high oxidation potential (2.07V), i.e. its potential to react with other substances. The oxidation potential of ozone can be measured by the redox potential and comparing, ozone is about five times more oxidizing than oxygen and about twice as oxidizing as chlorine. Ozone has a well-documented kill rate of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. The high kill rate makes it possible to decrease retention times and use smaller reaction tanks compared to disinfecting with other oxidants, thus providing significant reductions in investment costs for tanks and treatment plants.

In addition to being able to eliminate microorganisms, ozone can be used to control taste, odor, and color. It can also be used for flocculation of organic material, which simplifies subsequent mechanical filtration.