Odor Control

Ozone is unmatched as a deodorizer. Ozone has a strong characteristic odor even in very low concentrations. Its effect on the olfactory membrane makes it difficult or impossible to detect other odors when ozone is present. In low concentrations (0.01 to 0.02 p.p.m.v.) ozone acts as a masking agent on most odors. Tests have demonstrated that room odors were undetectable even when ozone concentrations were less than 0.01 p.p.m.

Some very delicate odors are destroyed even at these low concentrations. However, to totally eliminate "heavy" odors higher concentrations of ozone are required to react with gases in the air and odors trapped in materials. Time to deodorize is determined by the quantity of the substance producing odor and the quantity of ozone available to react with it. (Ref 152. 172) Ozone at a concentration of 0. I p.p.m.v wiU destroy microorganisms and eliminate most odors within 48 hours.

Odoriferous substances are susceptible to oxidation, but the addition of oxygen to a substance (oxidation) does not always render it safe. For example, oxidation of allyl alcohol yields aidehyde acrolein, a very deadly gas. Safety considerations apply only to definite industrial odors and do not include animal wastes or putrefactive gases of animal or vegetable tissue. Putrefaction produces highly odorous substances such as amino, aromatic and fatty acids, indole, skatole, cresol, and also he alkaloid-like ptomaines, such as tetratnethylene-diamine and pentamethylene- diamine, etc. The effect of ozone on these substances is that of combustion; i.e., the final products of the hydrocarbons being C02 and water and those containing nitrogen, nitrogen pentoxide.

Where putrefaction occurs - the air from sewers, etc.- while highly odoriferous, contains but traces of these substances. The odors are easily and completely destroyed by ozone. Ozone has been used in San Francisco to deodorize a sewage pumping station when the pump screens had to be cleaned. A rat died in a wall of an office building and the odor penetrated several offices. The application of ozone completely destroyed the odor.

Single atoms of oxygen from the decomposition of ozone immediately oxidize odors. The lower the temperature and the larger the odor molecules, the weaker the oxidizing effect. Humidity has no effect on this process, but does accelerate destruction of bacterial viruses and fungi that may contribute to odor.

Portable, compact ozonators have been used successfully in the following areas:

Garbage Holding Areas.
Bus, Train, 4ircraft, and Vehicle Interiors. Employee Lounges.
Fish Stores. Fish odors will not cling to clothing.
Hotels. Smoke odors. spilled beverage or food odors, urine and fecal odor, vomit, individual body odors.
Restaurants, Cocktail Lounges and Bars.
Kitchen and Food Preparation Areas.
Rest Rooms.
Health Clubs, Swimming Pools, Spa Rooms and sports locker rooms.
Heat Pump and Air Conditioning Intstallations. Eliminates "Dirty Sock Syndrome"(Odor).
Chlorine smell control.
Restoration of buildings, Drapes, Curtains, Furniture, Rugs and Clothing.
Veterinary Clinics, Zoos, Indoor Animal Farm Areas, Hospitals, Nursing and retirement Homes.
Office Buildings. Retail Stores.
New Construction and Restoration. Ozone eliminates paint, carpet, furniture
and panelling odors-toxic outgassing, principally formaldehyde.
Funeral Homes. Body transport, storage and preparation: vehicles.

THE SMELL OF OZONE

Ozone at low concentrations (0.01 to 0.04 p.p.m.v.) leaves a fresh and pleasant feeling to a room. At high ozone concentrations, a characteristic "electrical" odor is noticeable.