Ozone

Solubility of Ozone in water

The solubility of ozone in water follows the same rules as oxygen, the solubility coefficient decreases
with an increase in temperature and ionic concentration of the water. Ozone however is much more
soluble in water than oxygen.

Measurement of ozone & Redox Potential

The concentration of ozone on water is very difficult and expensive measurement to make with any
degree of accuracy, especially in seawater or water with a high ionic and organic content. Ozone is a
strong oxidising agent as given by its oxidation potential;

Redox potential
Potential (Volts)
Iron
Ozone
Hydrogen peroxide
Permanganate
Chlorine
Chlorine dioxide

2.85
2.07
1.76
1.68
1.36
0.95

When ozone is dissolved in water, the ozone will increase the oxidation capacity of the water. This
measurement is referred to ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) or REDOX Potential. The Redox
potential is therefore an indirect measurement of the concentration, or activity of ozone in solution.

Ozone, Redox levels and bacterial concentration

The sediment in the bottom of a lake, sludge in a sewerage works or septic tank will have a very low
Redox potential and will likely be devoid of any oxygen. This sludge or waste water will have a very
high concentration of reductive anaerobic bacteria, indeed the bulk of the organic matter may in fact be
bacteria. As the concentration of oxygen increases, the oxidation potential of the water will increase.
A low Redox potential or small amount of oxygen is toxic to anaerobic bacteria, therefore as the
concentration of oxygen and Redox potential increases the bacterial population changes from reductive
anaerobic bacteria to oxidative aerobic bacteria. Further increase in the oxidation potential of th4e
water results in the oxidation of proteins in the bacterial cell walls, the concentration of viable bacteria
therefore decrease exponentially as the ozone/Redox potential increases.

Ozone levels and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)/Biological Oxygen Demand

(BOD)
Ozone disinfects water and kills bacteria by oxidation of specific cell wall components. However
ozone is nonspecific and it will oxidise many different types of chemical species both organic and
inorganic. For example if the water has a high concentration of manganese, iron, proteins or organic
material then these components will effectively reduce the available concentration of ozone in the
water, and hence the germicidal properties of the gas. As a guide if you wish to achieve near 100%
disinfection of the water, the applied ozone concentration should be equivalent to 50% of the COD.
For example, if the COD is 2 mg/1, then the maximum ozone concentration should be 1mg/1. Please
note that you should only use this figure as a guide.
Ozone has a major advantage over disinfectants such as chlorine since it does not leave any residuals in
the water, this makes ozone environmentally friendly and ideal for the treatment of potable water and
critical industrial applications.

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Ozone concentration and viruses

A virus is approximately 1000 times smaller than bacteria and consists of a package of nucleic acid
encased in a tough casing. The de-activation of a virus by ozone is by oxidation of cell wall
components and the nucleic acid. Ozone is as effective against most viral species as it is against
bacteria. Ozone has been shown to be very much more affective than chlorine with a reaction time up
to 10 times faster.

Ozone conc.
Mg/1
(approx.)

Redox
potential
mV

Bacterial
count
E. coli/100 ml

Comment

0.0

50 to 100

Below 50mv, anaerobic

sediment, bacterial sludge.

0.1

200

300

Poor quality natural water

0.2

300

30

Good quality natural water

desired minimum level for
aquaculture

0.3

400

Upper limit for aquaculture

and aquariums

0.4

500

Damage to the epithelial

tissues if aquatic life

0.5

600

Severe damage to aquatic

life, near 100% disinfection

0.6

700

Above 700mv complete

disinfection. Swimming pools,
potable water treatment.

The relationship between the ozone concentration and redox potential assumes that the water is clean
with a low COD or organic content.
OZONEREDON

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