Ozonization and Reclamation

In this depicted system, ozone is injected into the airsteam and mixed in the turbulator to a degree that would guarantee ozonization of all organic compounds, including viral nucleic acids and bacteria. Due to the corrosiveness of the ozone, an efficient reclamation system must be developed. Reclaimed ozone could be recycled to the injector, or else neutralized and used to regenerate electricity which would feed back to the regenerator.

An alternative to regeneration of the ozone is ozone filtration through the use of the polymer NoXon, which removes ozone from air. This polymer, developed by Hoechst, converts the ozone to oxygen. Reportedly, the triatomic ozone molecule is disrupted, one of its oxygen atoms binds to the polymer, and the remaining two atoms form diatomic oxygen. The polymer's active absorption sites eventually become saturated and it must be regenerated or replaced. Although this product is not yet on the market, its application to the above described system holds great potential.

Ozonization has proven extremely effective in water systems, but as yet no airside systems have been developed and proven safe and effective. Ongoing research at Penn State has found airborne concentrations of ozone highly effective at disinfecting surfaces. The levels of ozone capable of producing rapid sterilization appear low enough that natural decay, or decay enhanced by uv radiation, may be sufficient to render the sterilized air breathable without recourse to ozone filtration. Results of this research cannot be presented here at present, but summaries will be provided later, or on request to interested parties.

References

  1. Beltran, F. J. (1995). "Theoretical aspects of the kinetics of competitive ozone reactions in water." Ozone Science and Engineering 17: 163-181.
  2. Beltran, F. J. and P. Alvarez (1996). "Rate constant determination of ozone-organic fast reactions in water using an agitated cell." Journal of Environmental Science & Health A31(5): 1159-1178.
  3. Botzenhart, K., G. M. Tarcson, et al. (1993). "Inactivation of bacteria and coliphages by ozone and chlorine dioxide in a continuous flow reactor." Water Science Technology 27(3-4): 363-370.
  4. Broadwater, W. T., R. C. Hoehn, et al. (1973). "Sensitivity of three selected bacterial species to ozone." Applied Microbiology 26(3): 393-393.
  5. Bunning, G. and D. C. Hempel (1996). "Vital-fluorochromization oF microorganisms using 3',6'-diacetylfluorescein to determine damages of cell membranes and loss of metabolic activity by ozonation." Ozone Science and Engineering 18: 173-181.
  6. Chang, C. Y., C. Y. Chiu, et al. (1996). "Combined self-absorption and self-decomposition of ozone in aqueous solutions with interfacial resistance." Ozone Science & Engineering 18: 183-194.
  7. de Mik, G., I.de Groot (1977). "The germicidal effect of the open air in different parts of the Netherlands." Journal of Hygiene 78: 175-187.
  8. Elford, W. J. and J. v. d. Eude (1942). "An investigation of the merits of ozone as an aerial disinfectant." Journal of Hygiene 42: 240-265.
  9. Fetner, R. H. and R. S. Ingols (1956). "A comparison of the bactericidal activity of ozone and chlorine against Escherichia coli at 1 C." Journal of General Microbiology 15: 381-385.
  10. Finch, G. R., D. W. Smith, et al. (1988). "Dose-response of Escherichia coli in ozone demand-free phosphate buffer." Water Resources Technology 22(12): 1563-1570.
  11. Finch, G. R. and D. W. Smith (1989). "Evaluation of empirical process design relationships for ozone disinfection of water and wastewater." Ozone Science and Engineering 12(2): 157-175.
  12. Hall, R. M. and M. D. Sobsey (1993). "Inactivation of Hepatitis A virus and MS2 by ozone and ozone-hydrogen peroxide in buffered water." Water Science Technology 27(3-4): 371-378.
  13. Harakeh, M. S. and M. Butler (1985). "Factors influencing the ozone inactivation of enteric viruses in effluent." Ozone Science & Engineering 6: 235-243.
  14. Hart, J., I. Walker, et al. (1995). "The use of high concentration ozone for water treatment." Ozone Science & Engineering 17: 485-497.
  15. Hartman (1925). J. Am. Soc. Heat. & Vent. Engrs. 31: 33.
  16. Heindel, T. H., R. Streib, et al. (1993). "Effect of ozone on airborne microorganisms." Zbl. Hygiene 194: 464-480.
  17. Katzenelson, E. and H. I. Shuval (1973). Studies on the disinfection of water by ozone : viruses and bacteria. First International Symposium on Ozone for Water & Wastewater Treament, Washington D.C., Hampson Press.
  18. Katzenelson, E., G. Koerner, et al. (1979). "Measurement of the inactivation kinetics of poliovirus by ozone in a fast-flow mixer." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 37(4): 715-718.
  19. Levenspiel, O. Chemical Reaction Engineering. New York, John Wiley & Sons.
  20. Lockowitz, T. G., H. N. Guttman, et al. (1973). Deactivation of virus by ozonation in a stirred tank reactor. First International Symposium on Ozone for Water & Wastewater Treament, Washington D.C., Hampson Press.
  21. Masaoka, T., Y. Kubota, et al. (1982). "Ozone decontamination of bioclean rooms." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 43(3): 509-513.
  22. McCarthy, J. J. and C. H. Smith (1974). "A review of ozone and its application to domestic wastewater treaTment." Journal of the American Water Works Association 74: 718-729.
  23. Mik, G. d. and I. d. Groot (1977). "Mechanisms of inactivation of bacteriophage pX174 and its DNA in aerosols by ozone and ozonized cyclohexene." J. Hygiene 78: 199-211.
  24. Perez-Rey, R., H. Chavez, et al. (1995). "Ozone inactivation of biologically-risky wastewaters." Ozone Science & Engineering 17: 499-509.
  25. Rahn, O. (1945). "Death of bacteria by chemical agents." Biodynamica 5(96): 1-14.
  26. Reiger, I. H., G. Feucht, et al. (1995). "Selective adsorption of noxon for the detection of ozone." Odours & VOC's Journal(December): 39-44.
  27. Rice, R. G. (1997). "Applications of ozone for industrial wastewater treatment -- A review." Ozone Science & Engineering 18: 477-515.
  28. Roy, D. (1981). "Mechanism of enteroviral inactivation by ozone." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 41(3): 718-723.
  29. Roy, D., R. S. Englebrecht, et al. (1982). "Comparative inactivation of six enteroviruses by ozone." Journal of the American Water Works Association 74: 660-664.
  30. Scott, D. B. M. and E. C. Lesher (1962). "Effect of ozone on survival and permeability of Escherichia coli." Journal of Bacteriology 85: 567-576.
  31. Sobsey, M. D. (1989). "Inactivation of health-related microorganisms in water by disinfection processes." Water Science Technology 21(3): 179-195.
  32. Sproul, O. J. and S. B. Majumdar (1973). Poliovirus inactivation with ozone in water. First International Symposium on Ozone for Water & Wastewater Treament, Washington D.C., Hampson Press.
  33. Technology, N. I. S. t. (1992). "Photoinitiated ozone-water reaction." Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 97(4): 499.
  34. Vaughn, J. M., Y. S. Chen, et al. (1987). "Inactivation of human and simian rotaviruses by ozone." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 53(9): 2218-2221.
  35. Zeterberg, J. M. (1973). "A review of respiratory virology and the spread of virulent and possibly antigenic viruses via air conditioning systems." Annals of Allergy 31: 228-299.