Ozonation

One of the most common ways to purify polluted air and remove strong odours is to use an ozone generator, also known as an ozone air purifier. In generators, ozone formation is similar to the processes that occur in the upper atmosphere and during lightning strikes, where a chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons produces O3.

In which cases is ozonation recommended?

Children and older people are often more sensitive to chemicals and smells. After a mould removal service or chemical pest control, it is recommended to ozonate the room to ensure that no particles remain that can cause allergies.

This is especially the case if there is a smell of mould, but no physical evidence of it. Mould spores are dangerous for both young people and adults and can trigger asthma and other allergic reactions. Ozonation is a practically essential service for people who are already allergic to mould.

Other uses of ozone are to treat tobacco odour that has soaked into the walls of a room, to clean up after a dead body, or after a chemical or other odour-causing spillage in a room.

What is ozonation?

Ozone, otherwise known as trioxygen, is made up of three oxygen molecules and is designated O3. Every day, we breathe in oxygen called O3. This third oxygen molecule is unstable and has only a weak bond with the other two molecules, which easily decompose in the environment.

This molecule easily attaches itself to bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms and, by penetrating their molecular structure, destroys them from within.

This is the fastest known elimination of bad odours, microbiologically contaminated environments and mould spores. In this short article, we will talk about what ozonation is, what it is used for and the cost of ozonation.

How does an ozone generator work?

Because ozone is so fragile, it is almost impossible, at least with modern technology and knowledge, to preserve it for long periods. It must therefore be produced locally, using high-tech equipment. Ozone air purifiers take oxygen from the air (O2) and give it a strong electrical charge. This electrical charge allows the oxygen molecules to rearrange themselves and form ozone.

The ozone released from the unit collides with molecules such as mould, smoke or other unpleasant volatiles and binds to the polluted particles, destroying them or, more precisely, destroying the cell walls. Since this derivative is not in a stable form, it decomposes to form simple oxygen after destroying the pollutants.

Have you ever noticed that when you walk through a large supermarket, with so many smells around, you don’t smell them? That’s because ozone is continuously allowed into the ventilation ducts in small, safe concentrations, thus destroying all odours and possible pathological micro-organisms.

As a preventive measure, ozonation is recommended for rooms where biological contamination may occur. The regularity shall be at the discretion of each legal entity depending on the nature of the work.

Ozone is not a persistent substance in our atmosphere and will decompose quite quickly after the generator has been in operation, especially if more air is introduced into the room. After ozonation, the smell is similar to that of a forest that has just been ravaged by rain and thunderstorms.

This is not surprising, as the electrical charge causes the ozone levels to be higher and the pressure lower after a storm. So after this process, homes will breathe clean, fresh air that is safe and healthy to be in.

Is it safe to return home after the ozonation process?

To use ozone effectively, every crack, window and cavity in the house must be insulated, as ozone is highly pervasive, reaching the farthest reaches of the apartment or house, and no life, not even plants, can be present while it is present.

It is very dangerous to enter the ozone field at high concentrations in the air – it can cause irreparable damage to the respiratory tract and the lungs, which is why the units are fitted with timers and switch off automatically after a certain period of operation and the ozone concentration generated, and the ozone starts to decompose into oxygen.

It is recommended to use special dehumidifiers and to open the windows when entering the room after a certain time.

What is the capacity of an ozone generator?

The 1-gram ozonator generates enough ozone to ozonate an average room of about 10 cubic metres in 30 minutes of operation. As the operating time is increased or decreased, the volume to be ozonated changes proportionally.

Example time/ozone volume ratios:

Device performance/time	30min	1 hour
1g/h	10m³	20m³
10g/h	100m³	200m³
20g/h	200m³	400m³
40g/h	400m³	800m³

After ozonation, the room should be thoroughly ventilated, with a minimum ventilation time of 30 minutes. It is also useful to know that ozone is heavier than air and settles more quickly, so ozone generators should not be placed on the ground but as high up as possible.

Ozone services are available not only in Lithuania, but also all over the world, but it is not recommended to do ozonation on your own with powerful devices because of the health risks. In industrial facilities, ozone air purification can only be carried out by experienced professionals.

Also bear in mind that ozonating one room in an apartment will not be of any benefit, the ozone must be fully diffused throughout the room, as if it does not reach the other cavities, new micro-organisms will form again quite quickly.

What is the cost of ozonation?

The price depends on several aspects. The first is, of course, the area, and the second is the geographical location. Let’s say your apartment is 50 square metres, with an average ceiling height of 2.4m – the ozonation cubic capacity will be about 120m3. From the readings available from the ozone generator, you can determine how long on average you need to ozonate.

With powerful devices, the average time needed to ozonate an apartment is about 30-40min, usually exceeding the cubic capacity limits for a more efficient result. This is also due to the fact that ozone is not very durable and decomposes quickly, especially in the presence of oxygen leakage into the room.

The cost of ozonation for such a facility is generally between 100e and 150e in major cities. Ozonation in Vilnius is therefore unlikely to cost more than 150e for a 40-60m2 apartment. The cost varies depending on the number of rooms, the number of cavities to be isolated and the time – sometimes it is necessary to change the location of the ozone generator in the room.

And since the generator cannot be accessed for some time after it has been switched off due to decomposition processes, the ozonation process itself can take double or triple the time, and the cost will be higher accordingly.