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Wastewater
Technology Fact Sheet
Ozone Disinfection
DESCRIPTION • Breakage of carbon-nitrogen bonds leading
to depolymerization.
Disinfection is considered to be the primary
mechanism for the inactivation/destruction of TABLE 1 INFECTIOUS AGENTS
pathogenic organisms to prevent the spread of POTENTIALLY PRESENT IN UNTREATED
waterborne diseases to downstream users and the DOMESTIC WASTEWATER
environment. It is important that wastewater be
adequately treated prior to disinfection in order for
Organism Disease Caused
any disinfectant to be effective. Table 1 lists some
Bacteria
common microorganisms found in domestic
wastewater and the diseases associated with them. Escherichia coli Gastroenteritis
(enterotoxigenic)
Leptospira (spp.) Leptospirosis
Ozone is produced when oxygen (O2) molecules are
Salmonella typhi Typhoid fever
dissociated by an energy source into oxygen atoms
and subsequently collide with an oxygen molecule to Salmonella (=2,100 serotypes) Salmonellosis
form an unstable gas, ozone (O3), which is used to Shigella (4 spp.) Shigellosis (bacillary
dysentery)
disinfect wastewater. Most wastewater treatment
plants generate ozone by imposing a high voltage Vibrio cholerae Cholera
alternating current (6 to 20 kilovolts) across a Protozoa
dielectric discharge gap that contains an Balantidium coli Balantidiasis
oxygen-bearing gas. Ozone is generated onsite Cryptosporidium parvum Cryptosporidiosis
because it is unstable and decomposes to elemental
Entamoeba histolytica Amebiasis (amoebic
oxygen in a short amount of time after generation. dysentery)
Giardia lamblia Giardiasis
Ozone is a very strong oxidant and virucide. The
Helminths
mechanisms of disinfection using ozone include:
Ascaris lumbricoides Ascariasis
T. solium Taeniasis
• Direct oxidation/destruction of the cell wall
with leakage of cellular constituents outside Trichuris trichiura Trichuriasis
of the cell. Viruses
Enteroviruses (72 types, e.g., Gastroenteritis,
• Reactions with radical by-products of ozone polio, echo, and coxsackie heart anomalies,
viruses) meningitis
decomposition.
Hepatitis A virus Infectious hepatitis
Air or pure oxygen is used as the feed-gas source After generation, ozone is fed into a down-flow
and is passed to the ozone generator at a set flow contact chamber containing the wastewater to be
rate. The energy source for production is generated disinfected. The main purpose of the contactor is to
by electrical discharge in a gas that contains oxygen. transfer ozone from the gas bubble into the bulk
Ozone generators are typically classified by: liquid while providing sufficient contact time for
disinfection. The commonly used contactor types
• The control mechanism (either a voltage or diffused bubble (co-current and counter-current) are
frequency unit). positive pressure injection, negative pressure
(Venturi), mechanically agitated, and packed tower.
• The cooling mechanism (either water, air, or Because ozone is consumed quickly, it must be
water plus oil). contacted uniformly in a near plug flow contactor.
• The physical arrangement of the dielectrics The off-gases from the contact chamber must be
(either vertical or horizontal). treated to destroy any remaining ozone before
Recycle
Wastewater In
Previously, ozone demand information was It is important that the ozone generator,
unknown. Several studies were conducted to enable distribution, contacting, off-gas, and ozone
better control of the ozone disinfection process. destructor inlet piping be purged before opening the
These included the recent installation of a pilot-scale various systems or subsystems. When entering the
ozone contactor to allow the plant staff to measure ozone contactor, personnel must recognize the
ozone demand on a daily basis. Also, tracer tests potential for oxygen deficiencies or trapped ozone
were conducted to measure contactor gas in spite of best efforts to purge the system. The
short-circuiting potential. Results demonstrated a operator should be aware of all emergency
noticeable benefit of adding additional baffles. operating procedures required if a problem occurs.
Results also indicated operating strategies that could All safety equipment should be available for
maximize fecal coliform removal, such as reducing operators to use in case of an emergency. Key
the number of contactors in service at low and O&M parameters include:
moderate flow conditions.
• Clean feed gas with a dew point of -60EC
(-76EF), or lower, must be delivered to the
ozone generator. If the supply gas is moist,
the reaction of the ozone and the moisture TABLE 2 TYPICAL COST ESTIMATE OF
will yield a very corrosive condensate on the
AN OZONE DISINFECTION
inside of the ozonator. The output of the
generator could be lowered by the formation
of nitrogen oxides (such as nitric acid). Items Costs
Capital Costs
• Maintain the required flow of generator
coolant (air, water, or other liquid). Oxygen feed gas and compressor $245,500
Labor $12,000
• Monitor the ozone gas-feed and distribution
Power 90 kW
system to ensure that the necessary volume
comes into sufficient contact with the Other (filter replacements, $6,500
wastewater. compressor oil, spare dielectric, etc.)