What is ozone ?
Ozone (O₃) is a naturally occurring gas in our atmosphere. It’s primarily formed in two ways, As a from the lightning, or light of the sun. It is a molecule made up of 3 atoms oxygen, formed by the combination of 1 molecule of oxygen gas with 1 individual oxygen atoms. That disintegrate from oxygen gas by the motivation of ultraviolet C (UV-C) rays. Appear in atmosphere of the earth that name is Stratosphere layer, The atmosphere between 10 to 50 kilometers above the earth surface is the densest layer of the atmosphere with ozone, Acts as a protective shield to protects plants and animals from the sun’s rays, especially ultraviolet B (UV-B) rays. It is radiation that can be harmful to nature and life if received in excess. In addition, Ozone can also eliminate bacteria and virus.
Concentrated ozone has a blue color gas at standard temperature and pressure, When the temperature is cool down until -112 °C the state will change to a blue liquid, And black solid state at below -193 °C
Ozone is both good and bad
Stratosphere Ozone:
Formation: High in the stratosphere (10 to 50 km.), sunlight breaks down oxygen molecules (O₂) into individual oxygen atoms. These atoms then combine with other oxygen molecules to form ozone.
Role: This layer of Ozone acts as a protective shield, absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the Earth’s surface.
Troposphere Ozone:
Formation: Near the Earth’s surface (0 to 10 km.), ozone is formed through a complex series of chemical reactions involving pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.
Role: While essential in the stratosphere, ground-level Ozone is considered a harmful air pollutant. It can irritate the respiratory system, causing health problems like asthma and bronchitis.
So, while Ozone is a natural component of our atmosphere, its concentration and location can have significant impacts on our environment and health.
Ozone for freshness preservation
Ozone is triatomic oxygen (O3) with strong oxidizing power and can inactivate microorganisms effectively. It readily splits into oxygen, decomposing spontaneously and leaving no toxic residue. Ozone can remain in water at room temperature for 20 minutes. Therefore, it is environmentally friendly and reduces the dangers associated with using chemicals.
Ozone can destroy many types of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, fungi, and protozoa, which cause food spoilage. It can also eliminate disease-causing microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Listeria, Vibrio, and Salmonella.
The principle behind destroying microorganisms involves Ozone splitting to form highly reactive oxygen. This the charge transfer between cell wall layers, disrupting the cell wall structure affects and various cellular components. As a result, the cells of microorganisms and bacteria are immediately damaged and ultimately die. That is the reason that Ozone can preserve freshness.
