Active Oxygen is Created Naturally

Active Oxygen is a naturally occurring gas created by the force of corona discharge during lightning storms or by UV light from the Sun. 

Definition of Active Oxygen:

Active Oxygen (O3) is an allotrope of oxygen (O2). It is 1.5 times as dense as oxygen and 12.5 times more soluble in water and leaves no residuals or byproducts except oxygen and a minimal amount of carbon dioxide and water. It can be manufactured from dry air or from oxygen by passing these gases through an electric field of high potential sufficient to generate a "corona" discharge between the electrodes. Ultraviolet light and shorter wavelength radiation also causes oxygen to undergo conversion to Active Oxygen, which may be used for industrial wastewaters (Belew 1969). Active Oxygen is a more potent germicide than hypochlorite acid by factors of 10 to 100 fold and disinfect 3125 times faster than chlorine (Nobel 1980).

Active Oxygen is highly unstable and must be generated on site. The measure of an oxidizer and its ability to oxidize organic and inorganic material is its oxidation potential (measured in volts of electrical energy). Active Oxygen’s oxidation potential (-2.07V) is greater than that of hypochlorite acid (-1.49V) or chlorine (-1.36V), The latter agents being widely used in water treatment practice.

Oxidation potential indicates the degree of chemical transformation to be expected when using various oxidants. It gauges the ease with which a substance loses electrons and is converted to a higher state of oxidation (EPA 1990). Theoretically the substance with the lower oxidation potential will be oxidized by the substance with the higher oxidation potential. A substance can only be oxidized by an oxidizer with a higher potential (EPA 1978). The oxidation potentials of common oxidants and disinfectants associated with water and wastewater treatment are all of a lower oxidation potential than Active Oxygen. There is only one element with a higher oxidation potential than Active Oxygen and that is fluorine.

Organic compounds treated with a powerful oxidant as Active Oxygen will not always be converted totally to carbon dioxide and water, especially under abnormal industrial wastewater conditions.

Therefore, no other commonly employed and less powerful water treatment oxidant (i.e. chlorine, bromine, chlorine dioxide, etc.), all of which have lower oxidation potentials than Active Oxygen, will oxidize an organic material completely to carbon dioxide and water if Active Oxygen will not.

Is Active Oxygen Safe?

Active Oxygen is very safe - in over 100 years of use, there has never been a fatal accident. While chlorine forms thousands of extremely toxic by-products, Active Oxygen forms virtually none. These and other properties make Active Oxygen an IDEAL PURIFICATION and DISINFECTING agent. Active Oxygen is generated electrically and therefore adds no chemicals into the treated water.

  More About Active Oxygen and What Active Oxygen Can be Used For

The universal disinfectant

Disinfection by 3-atomic oxygen called Active Oxygen takes place by rupture of the cell wall - a more efficient method than Chlorine that depends upon diffusion into the cell protoplasm and inactivation of the enzymes. Active Oxygen level of 0.4 ppm for 4 minutes has been shown to kill any bacteria, virus, mold and fungus.

When the effectiveness of Active Oxygen as a disinfectant was measured, up to a certain dosage there was little or no disinfection. At higher levels the sanitizing effect increased greatly. For complete disinfection there has to be a surplus of residual Active Oxygen in the solution to assure that every living microorganism has been contacted.

In the area of viruses there is yet to be discovered an antibiotic that is truly effective. There are indications that DNA viruses such as Herpes are implicated in human cancers, since they organize the genetic material of the host cell to produce new viruses. Active Oxygen will inactivate viruses on contact even at very low residual concentrations. In case of polio only 0.012 ppm removes all viruses in less than 10 seconds.

Mold and mildew are easily controlled by Active Oxygen in air and in water. Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts are susceptible to Active Oxygen but not effected by normal levels of Chlorine. Mold and mildew are easily controlled by Active Oxygen in air and in water. Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts are susceptible to Active Oxygen but not effected by normal levels of Chlorine.

TASTE & ODOR CONTROL

Most tastes and odors in water supplies come from naturally occurring or manmade organic material contamination. Bacterial decomposition of humic material imparts taste to surface water, also the action of algae and actinomycetes give rise to objectionable tastes. Chlorination of humic material leads to chlorophenols that are far stronger odor and taste antigonists than the original phenol and the Chlorine. Most of these odors are removed by treatment with Active Oxygen. Even some sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans or organic sulfides can be oxidized to Sulfates with Active Oxygen.

REMOVAL OF HEAVY METALS

Active Oxygen oxidizes the transition metals to their higher oxidation state in which they usually form less soluble oxides, easy to separate by filtration. e.g. iron is usually in the ferrous state when it is dissolved in water. With Active Oxygen it yields ferric iron, further oxidized in water to Ferric Hydroxide that is very insoluble and precipitates out for filtration.

Other metals: Arsenic (in presence of Iron), Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Manganese, Nickel, Zinc - can be treated in a similar way. At Active Oxygen levels above 4 ppm however, Manganese will form soluble permanganate, showing up as a pink color.

COLOR REMOVAL

Surface waters are generally colored by natural organic materials such as humic, fulvic and tannic acids. These compounds result from the decay of vegetative materials and are generally related to condensation products of phenol like compounds; they have conjugated carbon/carbon double bonds. When the series of double bonds extend upwards of twenty, the color absorption shows up in the visible spectrum. Active Oxygen is attracted to break organic double bonds. As more of these double bonds are eliminated, the color disappears. Surface water can usually be decolorized when treated with 2 to 4 ppm of Active Oxygen.

Active Oxygen vs. CHLORINE

In comparing disinfection efficiency, Active Oxygen is effective 25 x more than Hypochlorous acid (HOCI), 2,500 x more than Hypochlorite (OCI) and 5,000 x more than Chloramine (NH₂CL). This is measured by comparison of CT constants - the Concentration & Time needed to kill 99.9% of all microorganisms. Chlorine reacts with organic materials to form Chlorine containing organics such as Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride, Chloromethane and others, generally known as Trihalomethanes (THMs).

Active Oxygen reacts with Organics to break them down into simpler compounds. These (e.g. Oxalic Acid) do not readily break down all the way to Carbon Dioxide with just Active Oxygen, but if subjected to bacterial degradation on activated charcoal, they will be removed. This water can be later treated with a low level of Chlorine say 0.2 - 0.3 ppm to maintain sanitation in the distribution system. This way no THMs will be formed. The THMs have been implicated as carcinogens in the development of Kidney, Bladder and Colon Cancer. The regulatory authorities are again decreasing the levels of THMs that can be in Community water systems. At the present time the limit is 0.05 ppm. Based on the scientific research, the level will be most likely soon lowered to 0.01 ppm.

Active Oxygen does not react significantly with THMs as they are more resistant to oxidation - it takes a very long time to achieve full oxidation. Some THMs are removed as a result of physical sparging by the aeration action of the Active Oxygen/air mixture.

ALGAE REMOVAL

Ozonation of a water contaminated with Algae oxidizes and floats the Algae to the top of the reservoir. The Active Oxygen will also oxidize the metabolic by-products of the Algae and remove the undesirable odor and taste.

IMPROVED COAGULATION & TURBIDITY REMOVAL

Oxidation of dissolved organic materials by Active Oxygen results in polar and charged molecules that can react with Polyvalent Aluminum or Calcium to form precipitates. Treatment of a surface water with up to 0.5 ppm of Active Oxygen results in a decrease in turbidity, improved settleability and a reduction in the number of particles. Referred to as pre-ozonation this treatment destabilizes the colloid with a resultant reduction of the amount of coagulant needed to produce a clear filtrate.

Active Oxygen REACTIONS TO ORGANICS

Active Oxygen reacts rapidly with most simple aromatic compounds and unsaturated aliphatics, such as Vinyl Chloride, 1,1-dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, p-dichlorobenzene, Benzene, etc. But it reacts slowly with complex aromatics and saturated aliphatics. Active Oxygen will degrade many organic compounds, such as sugars, phenols, alcohols, and as it degrades these materials it returns to Oxygen.

Coupling Active Oxygen with Hydrogen Peroxide will cause the formation of very active Hydroxyl ions which cause a nucleophilic attack on organic compounds. This can cause displacement of Halogens and other functional groups such as Amines and Sulfides. Coupling Active Oxygen with Hydrogen Peroxide will cause the formation of very active Hydroxyl ions which cause a nucleophilic attack on organic compounds. This can cause displacement of Halogens and other functional groups such as Amines and Sulfides.

Active Oxygen SOLUBILITY

If oxidizable chemicals are present in the water, even more Active Oxygen will dissolve to satisfy the demand. One limiting factor is the efficient of the mass transfer device used. In case of a pump and Bubble Diffuser, the water column should be at least 16ft. high. Higher concentrations of Active Oxygen in water cause more vigorous oxidation of even resistant organic compounds.

AIR TREATMENT

Active Oxygen reacts rapidly with most odors, oxidizing them to less harmful elements or all the way to harmless Carbon Dioxide.

More and more of our furnishings and floor coverings are made from synthetic materials. Under the stagnant air conditions which prevail because of the lack of ventilation, decomposition products and solvents leach out of these synthetic materials and fill the indoor space. Much has been said about the "sick building syndrome" and this usually refers to institutional building. But they have basically the same problems as the private home. When odors are inhaled, they increase the demand for oxygen in the human body thus depleting the body of oxygen.

"The #1 Pollution Problem in America is Indoor Air Pollution" --U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Modern buildings are constructed so tightly that odors and pollutants are trapped inside. Nature's own cleansing process, which uses both activated oxygen and negative ions are left outside.

Dust, pollen, molds, mildew, bacteria and viruses can fill the air in our living spaces. These can cause odors, irritation and allergic response. Fumes from paints, cleansers, carpets, pressed board, fabrics and other chemicals are also breathed in daily by you and your family.

According to the EPA, many pollutants in the typical home or office are at least 10 times higher than in outdoor air. The average household spends 90% of their time indoors.

A Person Takes Over 20,000 Breaths Each Day
Have you ever walked into someone's home and noticed an odor that you are not accustomed to? Odors are constantly created in the spaces where we live. Finding a simple solution to clean air is not always easy.

Air Filters Are Only Part of the Solution
As air passes through a filter, small particles that are floating in the air are trapped. This is helpful in reducing particles such as dust, pollen and dander, but is only part of the solution. Most gases and odors pass right through even the best Hepa filters.

"We get 60% of our energy from the air we breathe."

ECONOMIES

Active Oxygen is effective against a large variety of water treatment problems. In general, the more problems in the water to be treated with Active Oxygen, the less an ozonation system costs when compared to other more conventional treatment methods. When one is comparing the cost of an ozonation system to other treatment systems there are some key factors to consider; here are a few:

·         There is no need to purchase, ship or store chemical oxidants or disinfectants

·         There is no labor for handling.

·         Many health and safety concerns are reduced or eliminated.

·         Because Active Oxygen reacts so much more quickly there is opportunity for substantial savings in space requirements for the treatment system.

·         Because Active Oxygen treatment design is flexible, one of the variety of installations can be adapted to any fit any design circumstance.

·         It is likely that much of your existing treatment facilities are adaptable to an Active Oxygen based treatment system.

·         The pay back of your investment can be surprisingly short.