Purity of water, both previously and today, is a prerequisite for normal human life. However, at present, not all natural underground and surface water bodies are safe for consumption. Almost everywhere, water undergoes additional purification and disinfection before use. Our company produces special equipment for water purification with ozone, based on the most effective method of water treatment - ozonation followed by filtration. It repeats many natural processes occurring on Earth.
Equipment for water ozonation
Models of OZON-M ozone filter systems of various capacities are used:
- in apartments and private houses;
- at water intake points for mass consumers;
- in kindergartens;
- in production Food Industry;
- in bottling shops;
- in swimming pools, etc.
Their size varies from installations that fit under the kitchen sink to large-scale industrial complexes that occupy significant areas. Thanks to the use of such an active natural reagent, it is relevant to supply equipment in a block-container design, which is much cheaper than the construction of pavilions using other technologies. OZON-M systems based on ozone filtration are unpretentious and do not require ongoing costs.
A little history
Discovery of ozone
The first mention of a new gas, which would later be called ozone, appeared in 1785. Dutch physicist Van Marum, conducted experiments with electricity, side effect which was the formation of a new gas with a strong odor and unusual oxidizing properties of air after passing electric sparks through it. Half a century later, in 1840, the German scientist Sheinbein, while engaged in the hydrolysis of water, tried to decompose it into oxygen and hydrogen using an electric arc. And that's when ozone got its name. During this experiment, a new gas with a characteristic odor was formed, which Sheinbein called ozone, from the Greek word “ozien,” which means “to smell.”
First ozone generator
On September 22, 1896, Nikola Tesla patented the first ozone generator. And before that, in 1857, with the help of the “perfect magnetic induction tube” created by Werner von Siemens, it was possible to build the first technical ozone installation. In 1901, Siemens built a full-fledged hydroelectric power station with an ozonator plant in Wiesband.
History of the use of ozone (ozone water purification stations for cities)
The active use of ozone as a water purifier began in 1898 in the city of Saint Maur (France), and it was in this year that the first pilot industrial installation was tested.
By 1907, the first water ozonation plant was built in the city of Bon Voyage (France) for the needs of the city of Nice.
In 1911, a water ozonation station was put into operation in St. Petersburg (currently not operational).
In 1916, more than 40 treatment plants were put into operation drinking water ozone.
By 1977, more than 1000 installations were already operating worldwide.
Ozone has become widespread only in the last three decades, due to the development and implementation of reliable and compact systems for its synthesis - ozone generators. Today, almost all drinking water in Europe is treated with ozone. In the USA, the process of converting from chlorination to ozonation is underway. There are many ozonation stations operating in Russia major cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, as well as in many regional centers.
The wonderful properties of ozone
Ozone, which is characterized by increased environmental safety, in water treatment it is much more productive than chlorine and other chemicals. It does not have a prolonged action and does not appear in purified water. Due to its high activity, it actively and effectively affects the main types of contaminants and produces deep disinfection. Moreover, it does not cause addiction in microorganisms, which means that over time this method will not lose its relevance.
Purifying water with ozone is an absolutely safe process.
Ozone is characterized by high oxidizing ability and short activity time, which makes it possible to create a powerful and compact water purification system using the ozone filtration method. In addition, ozonation systems:
- clarify water, remove unpleasant tastes and odors, color and turbidity;
- neutralize living and non-living organic matter (all microbiology, petroleum products, etc.);
- remove inorganic contaminants (iron, manganese, chlorine, etc.).
This technique involves the use of simple and reliable ozone generators (ozonators) using a barrier discharge and operating on untreated atmospheric air.
Ozone in nature
Ozone - triatomic oxygen - an intense gas of blue color; at low temperatures(-112 °C) turns into a dark blue liquid, and with even deeper cooling it forms dark purple crystals. to his blue The Earth's atmosphere is due to ozone.
The bulk of natural ozone is concentrated in the stratosphere at an altitude of 15 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. Most ozone is in the five-kilometer layer (20-25 km), which is called the ozone layer. The concentration of ozone in this layer is small, but its total amount in the stratosphere reaches a very impressive figure - more than 3 billion tons.
Ozone is formed from oxygen in the surrounding air. The maximum permissible concentration (MAC) of ozone in the air is 0.1 mg/m3 (SanPiN). The odor threshold is ten times lower. That is, long before the maximum permissible concentration, the presence of ozone will be noticeable. There are several ways to produce ozone, the most common of which are: electrolytic, photochemical and electrosynthesis in gas discharge plasma.
Ozone water purification plants can operate effectively on untreated (hot, cold, humid) air.
The electrolytic (dirty) method of ozone synthesis is carried out in special electrolytic cells. Solutions of various acids and their salts (H 2 SO 4 HCLO 4 NaCLO 4 KCLO 4) are used as electrolytes. The formation of ozone occurs due to the decomposition of water and the formation of atomic oxygen, which, when added to an oxygen molecule, forms ozone and a hydrogen molecule. This method makes it possible to obtain concentrated ozone, but due to its energy intensity it has not been widely used.
The photochemical method for producing ozone is based on the dissociation of an oxygen molecule under the influence of short-wave ultraviolet radiation. This method does not allow obtaining high concentrations of ozone, and the performance of the UV lamp is limited by time. The method has found application in medicine and the food industry.
This is the process of treating a liquid by adding 0 3 gas, which simultaneously disinfects, oxidizes and removes foreign odors, tastes and colors. The result is water of the highest quality, completely suitable for consumption and for other purposes.
The liquid purified in this way is distinguished by a significant improvement in organoleptic properties, as well as freedom from various industrial contaminants. The ability of ozone to inactivate complex substances of organic origin contained in plant and animal organisms is the basis for the mechanism of water disinfection with ozone.
Purpose ozonation of water is effective removal from liquids, surfactants, petroleum products, sulfur compounds, phenols, as well as disinfection directed against harmful bacteria and viruses.
Due to the high quality of the resulting water treated with ozone, this method is widely popular. It is used:
- for surface water: as disinfection and deep purification of pre-clarified water from cyanides, phenols, petroleum products, surfactants;
- for underground sources: in water supply systems to release liquid from a slight excess of hydrogen sulfide contained in it, and;
- For tap water: for post-purification and disinfection at food enterprises of liquid coming from municipal water supply systems characterized by dilapidated pipelines.
Advantages
The positive effects of ozonation are observed as a result of its use:
- Protection against bacterial contamination: in particular such pathogenic microorganisms as enteroviruses and lamblia cysts, characterized by resistance to chlorine-containing reagents;
- Getting rid of difficult-to-oxidize anthropogenic pollutants ( phenols, pesticides, petroleum products and other pollutants i), which require preliminary oxidation;
- Organoleptic properties are improved: the water acquires a slightly bluish tint, characteristic of spring water, is well aerated, which helps improve its taste and good absorption by the body;
- ozonated water is completely absence of the slightest trace of smell and taste, which were characteristic of her before processing;
- water treatment with ozone eliminates the addition of additional chemical compounds and substances to the liquid;
- ozonated pool water relieves chronic fatigue syndrome; does not dry the skin; does not bleach fabrics and hair, like; does not irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes; increases the tone of the body as a whole.
Disadvantages of ozonation
- Despite its uniqueness, ozonation is only an intermediate link in a multi-stage water treatment system, since cannot be a universal method water purification, freeing it from all kinds of contaminants.
- Water saturated with the ozone-air mixture becomes corrosive and acquires high oxidizing capacity. This is especially true in cases where the solubility of oxygen in water decreases due to a decrease in pressure in the system and the temperature rises. Accordingly, the use of ozone-resistant materials and equipment is required (containers and reactors for storing ozonated water made of concrete or PVC, stainless steel or PVC pipes).
- The process of water purification with ozone involves the use of special equipment.
- The need to strictly adhere to the ozone content in water (not higher than 0.1 µg/l).
Operating principle
This method is based on the ability of ozone molecules (a chemically active form of oxygen) to penetrate the cell membranes of organic substances and immediately oxidize them. Which actually causes the death of microorganisms.
Peculiarities
- Ozone affects pollutants with very high speed, so, for example, when compared with chlorine, its reaction rate is 15-20 times faster, and all useful microelements are preserved.
- In combination with activated carbon, ozone also has a preservative effect based on the formation of peroxide bactericidal compounds.
- This gas is destructive for all existing bacteria and microorganisms without exception (at ozone concentrations 0.45 mg/l after 2 minutes the polio virus dies, whereas when using chlorine - only after 3 hours, at a concentration of chlorine 1 mg/l).
- Again, compared to chlorine, ozone is more harmless, since does not form chemical carcinogenic compounds.
- There is no need to store a supply of reagents indoors, since ozone is obtained from ordinary atmospheric air in specially designed devices, the so-called ozonizers.
Ozone sorption method of water purification with ozone
Water, after dissolving gas in it in a contact tank (also known as a mixing chamber), moves directly onto the loading layer of activated carbon. Coal, which has catalytic activity, “afterburns” intermediate decomposition products with dissolved impurities (organic), then has a destructive effect on residual ozone.
In certain cases, coal is a supporting medium on which biological oxidation processes occur. As a result, an ozone sorption unit can be called an ideal tool for purifying drinking water, providing a disinfecting, deodorizing and cleansing effect.
It is worth noting that in these installations the service life of activated carbon increases by 3-5 times compared to ordinary ones. carbon filters, excluding the use of ozone.
Summary
The use of ozonation, which is a modern method of water preparation, which manifests its multi-stage effects simultaneously in organoleptic, physical and bacteriological terms, is fully justified. Under the influence of the strongest oxidizing agent, which is ozone, viruses, spores and bacteria die. The advantages of ozonation technology are: reliability, versatility, simplicity.
Alex, May 2, 2016.Ask your question about the article
There are a huge number of water filtration methods, both manual and automated. Some of them do their job successfully, while others suck. At this stage of technology development, purification of life-giving moisture with ozone is considered the most popular and effective way, which is widely used throughout the civilized world. This great demand is due to the presence of many positive aspects the use of ozone as an oxidizing agent, but do not forget about the negative aspects that are also present. Our article today will dot the i's on the issue of water purification by ozonation.
After reading the article you will learn:
Ozonation of water
Ozone is a blue, odorless gas that is an allotrope of oxygen. Abuse by inhalation large volume may have adverse consequences.
Ozonation of drinking water is an expedient method of purifying life-giving moisture from a variety of harmful elements and unnecessary impurities. This process forms so-called ozone water (without foreign smell or taste, without unusual color, etc.). First, the life-giving moisture is saturated with gas. This causes organic matter to decompose into gaseous components, and other pollutants to settle in an insoluble form. The water is then filtered to remove all foreign particles.
Ozonation is much better than chlorination, since chlorine destroys only living organisms without affecting other harmful components of water. In addition, ozone is much safer to use.
Operating principle of the ozonizer
Naturally, a reasonable question arises: – on what phenomenon is the method of water purification by ozonation based?
Ozone gas is rightfully considered one of the most powerful natural oxidizing agents. It is through the oxidation process that water is purified from unwanted chemical compounds.
Let's move on to the installation itself, which directly performs the ozonation procedure.
An ozonator is a special device that produces ozone to disinfect food, water, air and to meet other needs (manufacturing mineral water, eliminating dandruff, cleaning laundry, etc.).
This mechanism consists of:
- Switching power supply;
- Signal lamp;
- Relay valve;
- Bit element.
Ozone water purification using an ozonizer has a rather complex reaction. Oxygen, which has previously been cooled to a temperature of 6°C, is sent to a special vessel. There it gets rid of most of the unnecessary moisture, which is very important because it promotes the production of nitric acid. Next, the oxygen is supplied to the ozone generator, which converts it into ozone through electrical charges. Then the resulting substance is sent through glass tubes directly to the point where the ozone-air mixture is supplied (the use of tubes made of other materials is not permissible, because only in contact with glass can ozone retain its Chemical properties for a sufficient period of time).
The reactor consists of several reservoirs into which water is pumped into pumps to carry out cleaning. First, the water is oxidized in the main tank, after which the air-ozone mixture enters the reserve tank. There it comes into contact with water that has not yet undergone the purification process.
In order to obtain ozone, you do not need to spend a large amount Money. The main costs will be to pay for the electricity consumed by the generator. 1 kg of ozone requires 18 kW of electricity.
Attention! Since the amount of gas used should depend on the degree of water contamination, it is strongly recommended to involve a specialist to program the work process. This will allow you to establish a regime in which the water will be sufficiently purified and at the same time safe for drinking.
Ozone for water treatment
It is necessary to be especially careful when choosing a water purification system if you need to carry out water treatment for a cottage, because the health of the people living in it will directly depend on this.
Installing disinfection in a private home is a necessary measure, since water from a well may contain elements that negatively affect well-being.
The most common problems:
- Mechanical pollution (sand, silt, sludge, etc.);
- Excessive iron content;
- Industrial pollution (if a plant, factory, road is located nearby);
- High water hardness;
- Bacterial contamination.
Ozonizers for water purification can solve such existing problems. Their use for water purification allows you to avoid all the cleaning difficulties inherent in living in a private house or apartment.
What does ozonized water do in the body?
Under the influence of ozonation, water is enriched with oxygen, which is beneficial for the skin and for humans in general. Also, such purified life-giving moisture is used in the treatment of certain diseases, such as:
- Herpes;
- Paralysis;
- Some autoimmune diseases;
- Certain surgical diseases;
- Chronic fatigue;
- Certain gynecological diseases.
This list is not complete. Discussions about the usefulness or harm of this water among doctors are still taking place!
Attention! Self-medication can be dangerous to your health. Be sure to consult your doctor.
Ozonator: harm or benefit
There is a lot of debate about whether ozonated water purification is beneficial or harmful to humans. Therefore, it is necessary to consider all the pros and cons in order to understand the possible risks.
What are the benefits of water enriched with ozone?
There are quite a lot of positive aspects:
- Complete sterilization. This type cleaning destroys all harmful bacteria and microbes, since in nature there are no microorganisms resistant to ozonation;
- All beneficial properties and microelements are preserved;
- Eliminated bad smell and taste, if there was one;
- Getting into water, ozone tends to quickly transform into oxygen, thereby enriching life-giving moisture. This is why water purified by ozone should only be drunk after some time;
- Acidity does not change;
- The whole process takes significantly less time than most other methods of water purification.
What is the harm of water with ozone?
There are fewer negative sides:
- The gas has a short-term effect. This means that purified water must be consumed within the first few hours after disinfection;
- Do not drink immediately after disinfection. It takes about half an hour for the gas to completely transform into oxygen;
- The place in which the ozonizer is installed must be well ventilated, since prolonged contact with this gas may cause problems with the respiratory system;
- The high cost of the ozonizer when compared with other disinfection methods.
Now you have an idea of what an ozonizer is and the principle of its operation. This information is sufficient to familiarize yourself with this phenomenon. Whether or not to install such a device is up to you. But it’s definitely worth paying attention to.
There are many ways to purify and disinfect water. Some of them are more effective, others less. Some of the methods are simple and can be done using available tools, while others require special installations. One of the effective modern methods is water purification with ozone. Ozonation leads to the oxidation of contaminants and their decomposition into safe components. Additionally, the water is disinfected, because Ozone affects biological objects, destroying them. To use ozone to purify water, a special installation is required.
Rice. 1 Formation of the ozone molecule
Ozonation is a safe method. The ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms. It is unstable and gives up one free atom, turning into a molecule of ordinary oxygen. The free oxygen atom is a very active oxidizing agent. It attaches to nearby molecules of substances, destroying them.
Using ozonation you can disinfect and discolor, remove iron from it, off flavors and smells. The main cleaning process with ozone is oxidation. An oxidizing gas is produced in special generators, and then passed through a volume of water to be purified.
Passing through water, the gas releases free oxygen atoms, which destroy bacteria and other microorganisms, organic and inorganic pollutants. After oxidative processes, oxygen molecules remaining from the ozone molecule, carbon dioxide and other gases resulting from the decomposition of organic matter are released.
Ozonation is more effective than chlorination, because Chlorine only affects living organisms. It does not help remove harmful impurities. Exposure to chlorine is long-term and selective. It creates organochlorine compounds that are dangerous to human health. Ozone is safer and quickly eliminates bacteria and various substances.
Using ozonation, iron and manganese are removed from water. These substances give the liquid a yellowish color and spoil its taste. It is worth eating and has an impact on human health. Excess iron and magnesium are not beneficial. Exposure to ozone allows the soluble compounds of these substances to be converted into an insoluble form.
Rice. 2 Ozonizing device - installation diagram
The ozone cleaning process has several stages. First, the water is saturated with gas. Some of the impurities decompose into gaseous components, while others become insoluble. Finally, the water is filtered to remove suspended particles, sediment and ozone decomposition products.
To purify water with ozone, a special installation is required. The work process is programmed. The desired mode is selected depending on the degree of water contamination. The amount of ozone should be sufficient to eliminate all contaminants. But there shouldn’t be too much of it, because... excess gas remains in the water. It should be remembered that in a certain concentration it is harmful to humans and can cause burns and poisoning. The mode is selected by a specialist based on water analysis.
After ozonation, the water is passed through a sorption filter. The most commonly used filler is carbon. It retains insoluble particles, gases and a number of dissolved substances resulting from the oxidation process.
Pros and cons of ozonation
Ozonation has many positive aspects and advantages. This increases the popularity of the method.
All types of microorganisms are destroyed in a short period of time. A sufficient duration of action is one to two seconds. Other disinfectants require longer exposure. Microorganisms do not develop resistance to ozone. All varieties of the smallest living organisms are destroyed: fungi, algae, bacteria, protozoa. Active forms are eliminated, as well as spores and cysts adapted to survive in unfavorable conditions. Ozone also destroys viruses. All this allows you to completely free the water from pathogenic microflora.
Rice. 3 Water purification process
Ozonation removes odors and tastes that may seem unpleasant. The water doesn't get any new flavors. All residual ozone quickly turns into molecular oxygen and escapes into the atmosphere. The acidity and other parameters of water do not change during the treatment process. The beneficial substances contained in the water remain.
This method of water purification also has disadvantages. Ozone is not stored or transported. It must be produced immediately before the treatment process from oxygen in a gaseous state.
To eliminate complex pollution, gas must for a long time come into contact with liquid. At the same time, some compounds are broken down poorly, for example, phenolics.
To produce ozone, oxygen or pre-prepared air is required.
Ozonation cannot be carried out using improvised means. A special installation is required - an ozonizer. The cost of ozonizers is quite significant.
Do not forget that this gas is a very strong oxidizing agent, so even small amounts of the substance are dangerous to humans. All processes must be carried out using monitoring devices.
Features of the use of ozonation
Ozonation is used in industry, agriculture, medicine and other fields. This method is used to purify drinking water and wastewater.
Ozone water purification eliminates biological and chemical pollution. It can be used in production and everyday life.
Rice. 4 Appearance ozonator
Ozonation is used in water supply systems. It should be noted that the use of this method in everyday life is limited by the high cost of installation. It can be used for a private home, but more often ozonizers are used in cottage villages when preparing water immediately for large quantity households.
Ozonation technology can become the best option. The most important thing is to assess the degree and nature of contamination. Despite the high cost of ozonizers, they are very economical. No special reagents are needed for operation and the installations pay for themselves quite quickly.
IN modern conditions before allowing fresh water before consumption, it must be cleaned of elements that adversely affect human health. Most often, cleansing is done using potassium permanganate and chlorine. There is another method that has been operating for more than a century - water ozonation.
Through purification with chlorine or potassium permanganate, the water reaches consumers either insufficiently treated to remove metals and other harmful chemical elements, or there will be residual reagents in the composition.
As a result, the water is considered conditionally potable or suitable exclusively for technical purposes. Through ozonation, water reaches users cleaner, more transparent and free of impurities.
What is water ozonation?
An element of the chemical periodic table, ozone, is a form of oxygen that is actively functioning. Ozone comes out the strongest oxidizing agent, produces a disinfecting effect. Consequently, the use of ozone in water purification guarantees the elimination of any metals and viral bacteria contained in its contents.
Ozonation of water is a method of preparing water for human consumption by means of harmless cleansing. The process takes a short amount of time and does not require additional reagents or materials. Through ozonation, the acid-base balance necessary for humans is maintained in water. This method is absolutely environmentally friendly and does not harm human health or the environment.
Untreated water usually contains predominant amounts of metals, through chemical reactions with ozone, they are oxidized and completely eliminated. Bacteria, viral infections or microbes contained in the water are destroyed through the disinfecting properties of the element. This result cannot be repeated when treated with chlorine or manganese.
Most often, ozonation is used in the treatment of water from underground and external sources for its further use for human consumption. Plants producing packaged drinking water prefer this method. The water becomes suitable for drinking, it is characterized by crystal purity and transparency, there are no odors or foreign tastes.
How does the ozonized installation work?
The process of water purification using ozone takes place in several stages:
- Oxidation of impurities and iron-containing elements, disinfection and elimination of bacteria and viruses.
- Filtration of oxidation residues, which is a lime-like sediment.
- Additional water purification using an activated carbon filter.
The benefits of water ozonation
- Ozone acts instantly, oxidizing metals contained in water and killing harmful microbes and bacteria. A few seconds are enough and the effect will not take long, so even running tap water can be ozonated.
- Ozone copes better than all other reagents with destruction of harmful microbes and fungi in ode, including viruses and plant spores.
- When water is ozonated, the remaining reagent is converted into oxygen, which saturates the water and makes it incredibly useful for human consumption.
- When purifying pipeline water, ozone eliminates outsiders unpleasant odors and flavors.
- The use of ozone during purification helps eliminating acidity and makes the water neutral.
- During the process of ozonation, all useful microelements necessary for the human body are preserved in water.
- Ozonated water has positive effect on metabolism, accelerates metabolism, promotes weight loss, oxygen saturation of the body, and also has a positive effect on the functioning of the liver, kidneys and urinary system.
- Drinking ozonated water is often used in the treatment of many diseases, such as asthma, stomach ulcers, anemia, herpes, gynecological diseases, arthritis and arthrosis, gout.
Harm of water ozonation
The benefits of using ozone for water purification are very great, but there are also disadvantages. For example, if the water contains phenolic compounds, the resulting water may not be 100% safe. In such cases, additional processing is carried out. Since ozone is a strong oxidizing agent and is in itself very dangerous, exceeding the dosage of the substance can have a detrimental effect on human health.
Long-term exposure to ozone on the human body can develop pathological abnormalities in the respiratory system. Therefore, this substance should be used with extreme caution. Another disadvantage is the high price of ozone filters. If the water is high level contamination, it will take many times longer to clean it.
How to use ozonized water correctly?
There is no specific dosage for drinking ozonated water; the main thing is to observe the proportions and the required amount of the substance. Therefore, you can drink it in unlimited quantities. It is best to drink a glass of purified water in the morning on an empty stomach and an hour before each meal.
The benefits of ozonated water last for a short amount of time, which is why it is recommended consume immediately after the ozone cleansing process.
Thus, ozonation of water is one of the most effective and safe methods of water purification and disinfection. Thanks to its powerful oxidizing properties, water destroys metals, microbes and infections that can have a detrimental effect on human health.
Ozonation is used both in the production of bottled drinking water and in the purification of pipeline water. Ozonated water has many useful properties that have a beneficial effect on human health. However, it is necessary to observe the correct dosage of the substance so as not to turn the benefit into harm.