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Ozone Water Purification - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page
To make ozone, you need oxygen. Ozone generators that do not carry the "Power of EO3®" designation are based on older technologies that use oxygen that is in the air that we breathe.
Since it is still a gas, to dissolve it into water means the use of a bubbler, like a fish tank air stone. Most of that ozone is going right into the air that you are breathing, and that can irritatate your lungs. It is just not an efficient or safe way to dissolve ozone into water.
Our ozone generators use the "O" in H2O, the water itself, to make ozone, and that ozone is dissolved directly into the water. This hugely reduces the ozone off-gassing. Technically, it is called an electrolytic ozone generator. We know that is a real mouthfull, we just called it "The Power of EO3™" and very few companies make this kind of ozone generator. It is the the gold standard for making ozonated water, which can be used to not only purify the water, (it will make your water smell and taste better), or it can be used to purify things, like fruits and veggies. Thanks for your interest!
Don't have time to read more ?
Watch this (September 2021) 5 minute presentation by our CEO Yana DeMyer as she explains the technology to a crowd at the Studio 1915 Pitch Night at Georgia Pacific Technical Center. (She starts at the 40 minute mark.)
Or, listen to this iHeart Radio Podcast with Eric Paulsen when the company was just getting started.
or, watch some of our YouTube videos:
OZONE QUICK FACTS:
In 1997 the FDA approved the use of ozone as an antimicrobial agent with indirect contact with foods.
In 2002, the FDA approved ozone for use on food contact areas and directly on food with its "Generally Regarded as Safe" (GRAS) designation.
Today, the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) identifies aqueous ozone (ozone dissolved in water) as a substance that is allowed for use in organic crop and livestock production.
What is Ozone?
Generated from sunlight, ultraviolet rays and lightning, ozone is often referred to as nature’s disinfectant. In fact, many people notice that ozone has a distinctive sweet odor, similar to the smell after a summer rainstorm likely because lightning is one way ozone is produced in nature. Ozone is a natural way of controlling bacteria growth in our environment. Ozone has been proven to have a much higher disinfection potential compared to all other disinfectants available for use today. It can effectively kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, including those causing food spoilage or human diseases.
What is the chemical make-up of ozone?
A molecule of “normal” oxygen is comprised of two atoms of oxygen bonded together (O2). Ozone (O3) is created by adding a third oxygen atom to the oxygen molecule. As the newly formed ozone molecule is used up, (either by attacking impurities or through normal degradation), it is changed back to normal oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products in your water. Ozone has been proven to have a much higher disinfection potential compared to all other disinfectants available for use today. Ozone is completely natural and occurs in the environment every day.
Is using ozone technology safe?
Yes. Unlike other water treatment processes, oxidation is a natural, chemical-free process that produces zero wastewater and leaves behind oxygen molecules like the ones in the air we breathe. Thousands of cities worldwide including London, Moscow, Paris, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Milwaukee, to name a few, have been using ozone water treatment systems for many years. Most top water bottling companies also rely heavily on ozone technology to disinfect bottles and provide clean, safe water for consumers.
How is ozone different from chemical treatments?
Ozone destroys microorganisms instantly and effectively without leaving harmful residue in treated food or processing water. Therefore, ozone is safer and environmentally friendlier than most other antimicrobials. Ozone kills bacteria faster than chlorine.
Where can ozone water treatment be used most effectively?
Ozone treatment can be used for a wide variety of applications. Commercial uses of ozone include purification of drinking water, sterilization of medical instruments and devices, decontamination of fresh produce, and food preservation. Ozone also is useful in removing odors, and not just in drinking water).
How does ozone work?
The third oxygen atom of ozone makes it extremely reactive. This atom readily attaches itself to other odor molecules. When contaminants such as odors, bacteria or viruses make contact with ozone, their chemical structure is changed to less odorous compounds. As more ozone attacks the remaining compounds, the odor is eventually destroyed. This process is called oxidation. Ozone essentially reverts back to oxygen after it is used. This makes it a very environmentally friendly oxidant.
How is ozone produced?
Ultra-violet (UV) light creates ozone when a wavelength at 254 nm (nano-meters) hits an oxygen atom. Both processes split oxygen molecules into single oxygen atoms (O). These atoms combine with another oxygen molecule (O2) to form ozone (O3).
Roving Blue’s technology only works with water, and is called “Electrolytic Ozone Production”. That’s quite a mouthful, so we just call it “EO3”. Our ozone generator uses a low-voltage electric current to split the water molecules to make ozone. Because the ozone is directly dissolved into the water, there is no need for bubblers or contact chambers to get the ozone into the water. This makes our method very compact and efficient, and limits the amount of ozone that can get into the air.
How long does ozone last?
As soon as ozone is formed in the generator and dispersed in the water, it will start to revert back to oxygen. This step occurs by several processes including the following: Oxidation reactions with an organic material such as odors or micro-organisms. Reactions with bacteria etc., consumes ozone by oxidation reactions. Additionally, ozone breaks down thermally.
Higher temperatures destroy ozone quicker than lower temperatures. The ozone that remains is referred to as Residual ozone. "Residual" ozone created will return to oxygen usually within 30 minutes, in amounts equal to half its level. What this means is that after each subsequent 30-minute period there would be half as much residual ozone left at the end of the period as was present at the beginning of the period. This is similar to a geometric progression of 16;8;4;2;1. In practice the half-life is usually less than 30 minutes due to temperature, dust, and other contaminants in the air. Therefore, ozone, while very powerful, doesn't last long. It does its job and then disappears back into safe oxygen.
Will the odor come back?
No. If ozone is applied properly it destroys the source of the odor. Treatment times may vary depending on the strength of the odor but 98% of ozone treatments are successful. In the case of mildew the odor will return if you are unable to get rid of the moisture that is the source of the mildew.
How does ozone kill bacteria?
Ozone kills bacteria by destroying the cell wall of the bacteria. Once the cell wall is destroyed, the bacteria will be unable to survive.
What is TDS?
This is a measurement of charged ions, including minerals, dissolved in water, expressed as mg/L (milligrams per liter) or as parts per million (ppm). TDS is not a measure of pollution or contamination, since most of the dissolved solids are made up of naturally found calcium and magnesium minerals. TDS is only used as an indication of aesthetics (i.e. spotting, taste, etc.). In general, higher TDS waters (also known as “mineral water”) are popular and taste great. According to the best-selling book Blue Zones, a common point in all long-lived cultures is the high mineral content of their water (around 200 mg/l). There is no doubt that mineral water is healthy for us. We obtain the minerals we need from food and water, and what our bodies do not use is expelled. Some people are led to believe that minerals in tap water can cause kidney stones – this is false. Mineral water (high TDS) has actually been shown to reduce the risk of kidney stones¹, cause favorable changes in pH, as well as inhibit calcium oxalate stone formation.²
A conductivity meter will give a rough estimate of total dissolved solids, but will not illustrate the quality of the water. Quality water means it is free of chlorine, chloramine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pharmaceutical residues – all of which cannot be tested for with a conductivity or TDS meter.
What are the power requirements for your products?
Our ozo-pods are DC and can operate on 12 to 24 volts. They come standard with 110-240 power converters.
Our MVP utilizes an on-board 12V Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, and in lieu of that, has a power cord that can be attached to any DC voltage source from 10 to 30 volts via "alligator clips".
What do I do when calcium deposits form on the electrodes?
Tap water often contains minerals such as calcium carbonate. These minerals will accumulate on the electrodes and will cause the electrolysis process to slow down. When the generation of ozone water appears weak (or as measured by an ozone concentration meter), clean the electrodes at least once a year as follows:
1. Prepare a solution of tap water and regular kitchen vinegar (at a ratio of 5 to 1 water to vinegar or 10 to 1 water to citric acid).
2. Dip the ozone electrode into this solution for 10 minutes. Do NOT apply power.
3. Rinse the ozone water generator with tap water. After cleaning the electrodes, normal production volume will resume.
Alternative method: Some customers have reporded great success with CLR brand cleaner. Use the directions for cleaning a coffee maker.
How Much Mg/H of ozone does this ozone generator generate?
First of all, we can't answer the question in terms of Mg/hr, because that is a measure of ozone production that refers to units which produce ozone through corona discharge or other methods that use gaseous oxygen in the air to make the ozone. Our units produce ozone via electrolysis. That means we direct an electric current through the water to produce ozone. We use the O in H2O to make our ozone. The bubbles produced are so tiny that the ozone mostly dissolves directly into the water. Only a very small percentage makes it out into the air. Which is another reason why folks like our products, because ozone in the air can be powerfully irritating, and should not be breathed in. (This is why there are "ozone alerts" in some cities, to warn the very young or elderly to stay indoors).
We can only measure dissolved ozone in terms of PPM, or parts per million. The PPM that the ozone will reach is affected by many things, such as temperature, PH, and what else might present in the water that the ozone will destruct itself on.
This is why we invest in laboratory tests by world-recognized institutions such as SGS laboratories, who actually place hundreds of thousands of disease agents such as e-Coli and salmonella, in the water, to prove that the levels dropped to zero after using our products as directed.
Generally speaking, an ozo-pod will bring 10 liters of water to 1 PPM dissolved ozone within 10 minutes. This is a level lethal to any bacteria, virus, etc., if maintained for 3 minutes. So we tell folks to let it run for 15 minutes to be very sure. Our new product, the Ozo-Go™, actually contains an ozone test kit so that people can have the peace of mind. They can test the levels of ozone in the water to achieve that kind of kill rate. It is also sold separately from the kit.
What is your EPA pesticide registration number?
Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), pesticide products, as they pertain to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), may fall into one of three categories:
1) Pesticide product requiring EPA registration;
If a device, instrument, contrivance or appliance incorporates or is sold with a pesticide product, substance, or mixture of substances to perform its intended pesticidal purpose, then it is considered to be a pesticide product and EPA registration would be required (unless a specific exemption applies, such as pheromones as the sole active ingredient in traps, and minimum risk products).
3) Pesticidal device, regulated by EPA but not required to be registered with EPA
If the product in question meets the criteria below, it would be considered a pesticidal device and be subject to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Section 2(q)(1) and Section 7.
A pesticidal device is an instrument or contrivance (other than a firearm or chemical substance) that is used to destroy, repel, trap or mitigate any pests such as insects, weeds, rodents, animals, fish, birds, mold/mildew, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. While devices are regulated by EPA and subject to certain regulatory requirements, they do not require registration as pesticide products.
A device must work only by physical means (such as electricity, light or mechanics). It must not contain (or be sold with) a substance or mixture of substances to perform its intended pesticidal purpose. Some examples of common devices are listed below:
- Ultraviolet light systems, ozone generators, water filters and air filters (except those containing substances that are pesticides), certain ionizers, and ultrasonic devices for which claims are made to kill, inactivate, entrap, or suppress the growth of fungi, bacteria, or viruses;
- Black light traps, fly traps, electronic and heat screens, fly ribbons, and fly paper (except those containing substances that are pesticides), for which claims are made to kill or entrap certain insects;
- High frequency sound generators, carbide cannons, foils, and rotating devices for which claims are made to repel birds;
- Mole thumpers, sound repellents, foils, and rotating devices for which claims are made to repel mammals; or
- Onsite generators of pesticides (not sold with any active or precursor ingredients) to be used onsite including: peracetic acid, hypochlorous acid or chlorine dioxide (resulting pesticide is used onsite and not sold or distributed). Please note that the provision of services associated with these types of devices is prohibited, e.g., owners may operate these devices for their own purposes but cannot provide their services to others as this constitutes the sales and distribution of an unregistered pesticide.
What is the ideal use of the O-Pen® Silver or Tactical Black?
The O-Pen was designed for use with tap water anywhere in the world. It is perfect for travelers staying in hotels and eating at foreign restaurants.
Is the O-Pen® like any other straw or UV pen on the market?
While we do not currently have end of life data, the O-Pen®'s ozone generator plates have an expected life expectancy of at least 1,000 hours. Each use is less than a minute.= thousands of uses.
Can your products run continuously?
They can but would have to be services occasionally depending on the TDS of the water you are working with.
If ozone is being created by electrolysis, then how much hydrogen is being created? Are your products okay to run in a sealed room?
We have never measured the gaseous hydrogen that escapes, because our system does not product large amounts of gas like the air based systems do. Most of the gases are being dissolved into the water. We would not advise running the units in a sealed room. Good air circulation is something we would recommend.
How do I know if the O-Pen® is no longer working or producing ozone?
What is the difference between the O-Pen® Silver and the O-Pen® Tactical Black?
Gen II Tactical Black O-Pen. The Latest Advancement in Pocket Water Purifiers.
1. It Arrives in printed retail packaging.
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