Oxygen vs Air for Ozone Production
The use of pure oxygen to produce ozone allows higher concentrations in the feed gas that provides higher solubility
Ozone for Drinking Water
Ozone generation from pure oxygen for drinking water disinfection, and taste and odor removal
Ozone can be added at several points throughout the drinking water treatment process, such as pre-oxidation, intermediate oxidation or final disinfection.
Ozone is an unstable product that cannot be stored and needs to be produced on-site from oxygen through dedicated generators. Air Products, as an oxygen major supplier, has over the years developed the know-how to help its customers optimize the ozone processes.
Are you interested in ozone process optimization?
We can help you enhance your treatment and give advice on the options to increase your productivity or efficiency.
Ask the Expert
Tim Lebrecht
Commercial Technology-Water Systems
“Should I use oxygen or air for my ozone generator?”
For oxygen to form into ozone, oxygen molecules must be cracked and reformed. This takes energy in the form of electrical excitation of oxygen that disassembles the oxygen molecules. This is usually accomplished with high voltage (corona discharge) ozone generators. Once pulled apart, most molecules will revert to the stable form of oxygen. However, some of the oxygen is converted into ozone in this process. That process requires a lot of energy to crack the molecule and obtain a low concentrated flow of ozone. If air is used the generators will consume much more energy than using pure oxygen because of the huge concentration of inert gases such as nitrogen. Pure oxygen processes are more efficient due to the concentration of oxygen. In parallel, the ozone concentration can be increased from 3-4% with air to 12-14% with oxygen using three times less energy. The high ozone concentrated flow is also more effective in term of mass transfer for further uses.