Tech Topics By Allan Finney, Envron Ozone

Using Ozone for Odor Control

With increasing urbanization, odors are becoming a the ventilation system exhaust stream and then given a few
key issue for all types of agricultural and food processing seconds for the reactions to take place in a retention/mixing
operations. Ozone provides an excellent solution as a retrofit system. The mixing/retention system must be correctly sized
or when building a new plant and can even be used to kill to the overall airflow of the ventilation system.
odors in small point-of-use situations (i.e., tanks, bins, etc.). Ozone’s job is to oxidize or disassemble compounds
Ozone is the fastest acting oxidizer that is commercially that have combined to create the penetrating or truly
available. It is used in industries ranging from water treatment to offensive odors. These odors are typically base substances
pollution control and can be utilized in conjunction with existing that have combined to form long-chain molecules, usually
scrubbers or as a stand-alone system for odor control. through anaerobic processes. The long-chain bonds of these
With advancements in ozone generators, the technology compounds are relatively weak and can be easily broken down
is now much more user-friendly. The advantages of ozone in the presence of a strong oxidizer. This is the process that
are that odor control can be provided very consistently and kills the odors (see table 1).
operating costs are low (just the cost of electricity), with Due to the highly reactive nature of ozone gas, elements
no environmental or disposal fees. However, as with any with weak bonds are the first to react. This is referred to as
technology, correct sizing and maintenance are key elements instant ozone demand in an airstream. As the instant ozone
when using ozone. demand is satisfied (and odors are broken down), the resulting
base substances are non-odorous. In this regard, an ozone
How it Works system functions virtually like an odor switch. Turn the system
Ozone is “manufactured” on-site using oxygen on and the airstream doesn’t stink. Turn it off and the smell
concentrators and ozone generators so there are no input returns. It acts that fast.
costs other than electricity. Oxygen concentrators provide over Therefore, the advantage is that it can be used in relatively
90 percent pure oxygen to the ozone generators, which puts simple odor control systems that are not capital intensive.
the oxygen through a high voltage (corona) field. This converts Generating ozone is very inexpensive and typical operating
some of the oxygen into ozone. Ozone is a very unstable gas costs, even on a large-scale system, are measured in nickels
and the fastest acting oxidizer in commercial use. It is more and dimes per day.
powerful than chlorine and other chemical-based oxidizers. The single biggest problem seen in ozone-based odor
Due to the highly reactive nature of ozone, it cannot be stored control systems is always related to maintenance. When the
and must be used as soon as it is produced. system quits working it is usually because the level of ozone
For odor control in large-scale systems with high has dropped due to maintenance issues. Perform regular
throughput (usually measured in tens of thousands of cubic maintenance and you’ll continue to enjoy the benefits. Let
feet per minute), high concentration ozone is introduced into maintenance slide and the odors will be back.

Table 1. Breakdowns of organics using ozone

Sulphur compounds To CO2, water, and oxygen
Ammonia To nitrogen and water vapor
Ammonia hydroxide To CO2 and water
Aromatic compounds To CO2, water vapor, and oxygen
Aliphatic compounds To CO2, water vapor, and oxygen
Cyanide To cyanate to nitrogen and CO2
Ferrous iron To ferric hydroxide
Formaldehyde To carbonic acid-CO2 and water
Formic acid To CO2 and water
Carbonic acid To CO2
Ethylene To CO2 and water
Manganese To manganese dioxide to permanganate
Methane To CO2 and water
Nitrite To nitrate
Organic acids To CO2, water vapor, and oxygen
Ozone generators and oxygen concentrators Smoke To CO2 and water
in equipment room. Trichloroethylene To CO2, water, and hydrogen chloride
Note: CO2 = carbon dioxide.

32 June 2013 Render www.rendermagazine.com

System Maintenance monitor in the equipment room, and
So what does system maintenance a remote shut-off. On large systems,
look like? Here’s the component-by- a safety interlock with the ventilation
component breakdown. system is usually installed so that no
An ozone system uses an oxygen ozone is generated unless the ventilation
concentrator feeding an ozone generator system is working.
to produce an ozone gas stream. When properly sized and
Oxygen concentrators are pressure- maintained, ozone systems are an
swing absorption systems that use a excellent and very economical plant
pressurized bed of oxygen-absorbing or point-source odor control system.
material to extract and concentrate They can be used in conjunction with
oxygen from the air. These typically scrubbing or biofiltration systems and
produce over 90 percent pure oxygen. are a very effective technology for plant
There are two key maintenance items managers. R
here: a compressor and the pressure
bed. Daily maintenance includes a brief
inspection to make sure the compressor
is running and the flow-meter is showing
the correct flow of oxygen from the
system.
On a monthly basis, oxygen levels
should be checked manually using an
oxygen meter. Alternately, larger systems
can be set up with continual oxygen
monitoring. The compressor typically
needs rebuilt every couple of years or
so. When oxygen levels start falling, the
pressure beds are replaced to ensure
adequate oxygen is produced. Both of
these items are relatively inexpensive.
Recent advances in ozone generators
have greatly decreased maintenance
and, in the process, improved ozone
generation and concentration. Some
manufacturers found they could increase
the efficiency of their ozone generators
by decreasing the physical gaps in the
high voltage field where the ozone is
produced, which has the added benefit
of speeding up the flow of oxygen
through the generator.
Since the oxygen is travelling at
a much higher rate (often 10 times or
more faster), any unwanted (moisture-
producing) reactions are taking place
outside the ozone generating tubes. This
keeps the ozone-generating corona much
cleaner because any moisture produced
by the reaction takes place outside
of the corona. Some ozone generator
manufacturers are guaranteeing their
systems for maintenance for five years
or more because of this.
The other major considerations
when setting up an ozone system are
system placement and worker safety.
Large-scale ozone generating systems
should be installed in a clean equipment
room with conduit-shielded distribution
lines, at least one ambient ozone

www.rendermagazine.com Render June 2013 33