FAQ
What is Ozone?
Ozone is often referred to as nature’s own purifier. It is eviden at the seashore, in rain forests and after thunderstorms. We are all throughly aware of the protection the ozone layer affords us. Ozone also referred to as activated oxygen or trivalent oxygen is created naturally in our environment either through electricity, photosynthesis or by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It makes up approximately 20% of the air we breathe everyday. Ozone is created when one of these forces cause Oxygen to split into two separate atoms. The freed atom then attaches itself to a O2 molecule, recombining to create Ozone. The word “Ozone” is derived from the Greek word “ozien” which means, “to smell”. In high levels ozone is bluish in color, which is why the sky is blue. Ozone was discovered in the late 1800’s and is classified as the second strongest oxidizer in the world. In has been used over the last century to purify water and eliminate a wide range of odors in as a wide range of applications. In the most effective types of product the ozone is generated by high-voltage corona discharge duplicating the way lightning creates it.
How Does Ozone Work To Eliminate Odors?
As ozone is created it floats freely in the air and water. By nature it is an unstable molecule and has a half-life of approximately 20 minutes. Shortly after ozone is created it begins to break back down. It will cast off the first ozone atom, which will recombine with either another oxygen atom, reverting back to simple Oxygen (O2), or it will recombine with another gaseous element forming an inert gas losing all of its odor characteristics. Picture a room full of smoke; it is the phenol gas that is released that is the basis of the odor. It is in the air and on the surface of all areas exposed to the smoke. When introduced to that environment, the ozone quickly breaks down as it combines with the phenol gas molecule destroying all odor characteristics.
What are the Benefits of Using Ozone?
Ozone is very effective in eliminating ordors including tobacco smoke, human and pet odors, food odors, mold and mildew odors, garbage odors, renovation odors and much more. It is not a re-odorant. It totally destroys the offending gases that are the source of everything we smell. Unlike many other deodorizing methods, ozone actually searches out and destorys the problem gases. It will react with contaminants in the air, water, fabrics and on other surface of the walls and ceilings. Unlike other types of air purification systems, an ozone generator does not depend on the air passing through the machine to do its job. Ozone generators also produce large quanities of ions via the corona discharge. The ions cause the dust particles to agglomerate, and precipitate from the air leaving a cleaner environment.
What are ions?
Ions are charged particles in the air that are formed in nature when enough energy acts upon a molecule such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, water or nitrogen to eject an electron from the molecule leaving a positively charged Ion. The displaced electron attaches itself to a nearby molecule, which then becomes a negatively charged Ion. It is the negative ion of oxygen that affects us the most. Remember that feeling you’ve experienced near a waterfall or high in the mountains? Those are two places that thousand of negative ions occur. They create an effect on human biochemistry. The normal Ion count in fresh country air is 2,000 to 4,000 negative Ions per cubic centimeter (about the size of a sugar cube). At Yosemite Falls, you’ll experience over 100,000 negative Ions per cubic centimeter, on the other hand, the level is far below 100 per cubic centimeter on the Los Angeles freeways during rush hour.
What are the benefits of using negative Ions?
The negative ions cause microscopic particles (particulates) floating in a room, that often cause people to have allergic reactions, to clump together and fall to the floor where they can be vacuumed up. This is due to an electrostatic charge between the negative ions and other air molecules and particles in the air. Negative ionizers have been used for years to help rid closed indoor environments of allergens such as dust particles, animal dander, polen, mold spores, cigarette smoke, cigar smoke, particulate matter, etc. floating in the air. According to the book, The Ion Effect, negative ions are effective for allergies, asthma, cararrh, hay fever, sinusitis, eczema, burns, emphysema, and even as a substitute for transquilizers. It was discovered that negative ions balance serotonin in the body, and this explains why people tend to feel more alert, stable and energized in the presence of negative ions.