OZONE
NATURAL AND EFFECTIVE CLEANING
Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in nature, a simple molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. It was discovered in 1840 and its name comes from the Greek word ”ozein”, which means “to smell”. It is a natural, colourless or light blue gas with a characteristic smell. The smell, which resembles that of chlorine, can be noticed during passing thunderstorms because ozone is in fact formed by the atmospheric electrical discharges we call “lightning.”
MANY AREAS OF APPLICATION
Ozone has been used in industrial applications for many years and its uses are many:
- Reducing the dangerous grease buildup within commercial kitchen ducts
- Reducing restaurant cooking odours released into the local environment.
- Preparation of medicines and synthetic lubricants.
- Bleaching of paper pulp and textile goods.
- Air and water disinfection. Ozone kills mould spores, bacteria and microorganisms. In many places around the world ozone is used instead of chlorine for purifying municipal drinking water. Ozone does not form any chloride compounds and does not leave traces in the water after the cleaning process.
- Laundry disinfection in hospitals, care institutions and the food industry.
- Killing bacteria, yeast, mould and insects i foodstuffs and grain stocks.
- Odour elimination in smoke-damaged furniture.
EXPOSURE LIMITS
Local jurisdictions have maximum exposure limits for indoor environments. For example, the hygienic ozone limit value in Sweden is:
- NGV (threshold limit value) 0,1 ppm (applies for exposure during a workday, i.e. 8 hours).
- TGV (celling value) 0,3 ppm (applies only for a reference period of 15 minutes).(Pursuant to AFS 2005:17, Occupational Exposure Limits and Measures against Air Contaminants).
Extended exposure to ozone in higher-than-normal concentrations can be dangerous, causing irritation to eyes, lungs and skin. Important to keep in mind, however, is that with AirMaid products used within exhaust ventilation systems the ozone is present only in the duct airstream being sucked out of a facility at a negative pressure. When combined with safeties in our equipment and its installation requirements, the chance of any human exposure at levels higher than that found in nature is nearly null.
THE OZONE LAYER
Without ozone we could not survive. The ozone layer is present in the top of our atmosphere which protects the Earth, both from harmful UV radiation and from it becoming too warm.