Ozone Water Treatment and Advanced Oxidation
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://chemfyi.com/iframe/entity//" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://chemfyi.com/entity//Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://chemfyi.com/entity//)Use the native HTML custom element.
The powerful oxidant for micropollutant destruction
Overview
Ozone (O3) treatment is used in drinking water disinfection and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to destroy micropollutants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors that conventional treatment cannot remove. Ozone is 52% stronger than chlorine as an oxidant and decomposes to oxygen without leaving residual chemicals. Over 3,000 water treatment plants worldwide use ozone. When combined with hydrogen peroxide or UV light, ozone generates hydroxyl radicals -- the strongest oxidant available in water treatment.
Chemical Process
Ozone is generated on-site by passing dried air or oxygen through a corona discharge generator at 10-20 kV, producing 1-12% O3 by weight. The ozone-rich gas is dissolved in water through fine bubble diffusers or injectors at doses of 2-10 mg/L. Contact time of 10-20 minutes in a baffled contactor achieves disinfection and micropollutant oxidation. Off-gas containing residual ozone is destroyed by catalytic or thermal decomposition.
O3 + micropollutant -> oxidized products (direct ozone oxidation)
O3 + H2O2 -> OH. + O2 + HO2. (AOP -- hydroxyl radical generation, E0 = 2.80 V)
Raw Materials
-
Oxygen (O2) — Air separation or on-site PSA/VSA generators (Ozone precursor)
-
Electricity — Grid power (Energy for corona discharge (8-17 kWh/kg O3))
End Products
-
Disinfected and oxidized water — Drinking water, wastewater reuse, swimming pools (No chemical residual -- O3 decomposes to O2)
Environmental Impact
Ozone treatment eliminates the need for chlorine in primary disinfection, avoiding disinfection byproducts. However, ozone can form bromate (BrO3-, a probable carcinogen) from bromide-containing water. Energy consumption is the main environmental cost. Transformation products from micropollutant oxidation require monitoring.
Safety Considerations
- ⚠ Ozone is toxic at concentrations above 0.1 ppm (8-hour TWA)
- ⚠ High-voltage corona discharge generators require electrical safety measures
- ⚠ Ozone is a powerful oxidizer -- incompatible with rubber and some plastics
- ⚠ Residual ozone in off-gas must be destroyed before atmospheric release
Recent Innovations
Electrolytic ozone generation produces high-concentration ozone from water without gas handling.
Ceramic membrane ozonation combines ozone dissolution with membrane filtration.
Catalytic ozonation using heterogeneous catalysts (MnO2, TiO2) enhances hydroxyl radical production.
More in Environmental & Water Treatment
Activated Carbon Adsorption for Water and Air Purification
Global Industrial Scale
Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
Commercial Production
Flue Gas Desulfurization (Wet Limestone Scrubbing)
Global Industrial Scale
Heavy Metal Precipitation from Industrial Wastewater
Global Industrial Scale
Ion Exchange Water Softening and Deionization
Global Industrial Scale
Municipal Water Chlorination and Disinfection
Global Industrial Scale
Reverse Osmosis Membrane Desalination
Global Industrial Scale