Understanding Ozone
Ozone exists in nature all around us; it is created by the suns natural UV rays, and also during lightning storms. In fact, you are breathing Ozone right now!
Ozone is a molecule consisting of 3 atoms of Oxygen (O3). In comparison, the Oxygen that we breathe to give us life, is 2 atoms of Oxygen (O2).
Ozone has been a popular sanitiser and deodoriser for well over 100 years. A few of the more common applications for Ozone include; disinfecting operating rooms in hospitals, controlling the spread of infectious diseases in subways, and sterilising municipal water supplies.
How does Ozone work?
When Ozone comes into contact with an odour or other airborne pollutant, it immediately reverts itself back into regular Oxygen (02) and deposits its extra Oxygen atom onto the unwanted pollutant. This process is known as oxidation, and physically destroy the harmful pathogen or unwanted odour, and leaves in its place life-giving Oxygen (02)!
Because Ozone has a very short half-life, it will naturally revert back into regular Oxygen (O2) very quickly. For this reason Ozone must be continually generated on-site, with an Ozone generator.
NOTICE: For garbage chute applications, we highly recommend that Ozone is generated by using a very specific band of Ultra-Violet light (185 nm). This is because the other common method of creating Ozone (which is known as Corona Discharge), also produces Nitrogen Oxide by-products which can transform into Nitric Acid in the presence of humidity. This Nitric Acid can be corrosive in steel garbage chutes.
If you are considering Ozone as a solution to your garbage system, it is important to research and acquire a system designed specifically for that purpose, such as the Garbage Doctor. This is because special considerations are required for a product to successfully operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the dusty and humid conditions of a garbage room or garbage chute.
For more information on the proprietary Ozone technology used in the Garbage Doctor, please see our Si-Zone section of this web site.