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Advanced Designs

Purification

Purifico specializes in integrating cutting-edge ozone technology to purify water by efficiently breaking down pollutants like pesticides and organic matter. Ozone’s unique properties allow it to oxidize contaminants directly and through the formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH-), making it ideal for eliminating hard-to-remove non-living pollutants. Join the many municipalities and industries across the world that are using ozone-related technologies to purify their water supply. 

Quick Answer

Ozone water purification removes non-living contaminants that filters and disinfectants leave behind. Ozone oxidizes pesticides, organic matter, iron, manganese, and odor compounds directly, then forms hydroxyl radicals (OH-) that break down the rest even faster. Purification and disinfection are different jobs: ozone handles pathogens best, hydroxyls handle chemical pollutants best, and an advanced oxidation process (AOP) system balances the two. Nothing is left behind in the water except oxygen.

How is Ozone Used?
waterdrop falling of the leaf with green background

How Does Ozone Purify Water?

Ozone (O3) is a powerful oxidant that has been used to clean water for over 100 years. Ozone is a powerful disinfectant, but it is also an excellent tool for purification of water that is chemically contaminated. Ozone reacts directly with various organic and inorganic compounds, leading to their dissociation and removal from water. Ozone also purifies water indirectly, by producing oxidants such as OH– which share similar properties.

What Do Hydroxyl Radicals (OH-) Remove?

Hydroxyls (OH–) are formed naturally through the degradation of ozone. Hydroxyls are even stronger oxidants (E° = 2.80 V) and more reactive than ozone. Like ozone, there are no harmful residues left behind, just oxygen. Hydroxyls are less selective than ozone, meaning they react with a greater number of potential targets. In terms of their direct effects on pollutants, OH– is able to breakdown chemical contaminants faster and more completely than ozone. Even though they are powerful oxidizers and are excellent for water purification, research suggests that OH– does not contribute significantly to disinfection.

a molecule of water connected together with more behind it
In the context of agricultural water, hydroxyls help to eliminate chemical contaminants not easily removed by filtration such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, humic acids or other organic matter. Cleaning efficacy can be improved by increasing OH– concentrations beyond what is produced through natural breakdown of ozone. This strategy is referred to as an AOP (Advanced Oxidation Process) system and is widely used in the drinking and wastewater industries. AOP systems typically work by accelerating the breakdown of O3 using reagents or catalysts such as UV, hydrogen peroxide, or titanium dioxide.
A golden scale, symbolizing balance, fairness, and justice, often used as a metaphor for evaluating and comparing values or principles.

What Is the Difference Between Disinfection and Purification?

Ozone is a powerful oxidizer with potent cleaning and disinfecting capabilities, whereas hydroxyl radicals are even better for removing pollutants but are ineffective against microorganisms. To achieve both goals, water treatment systems can be designed to deliver an appropriate balance of hydroxyls (for purification) and ozone (for disinfection). Ozone systems providing disinfection inevitably also provide considerable breakdown of chemical contaminants; ozone systems usually exceed the purification needs of agricultural producers, but AOP systems may be helpful for heavily polluted water sources.

What Is an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP)?

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) represents a new class of water treatment systems that uses reactive oxygen species (ROS) to remove chemical or organic pollutants, and to destroy microorganisms. The main chemicals produced are oxygen, ozone (O3), hydroxyls (OH–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide radicals (O2–). AOP systems are used for two purposes, 1) to disinfect and 2) to purify water.

Ozone (O3) is the best disinfectant, but hydroxyls (OH–) are more effective for removing pollutants (organic or inorganic). In other words, ozone is the best weapon to kill pathogens, but hydroxyls are more effective to breakdown and remove things like pesticides or organic matter. When ozone breaks down it forms hydroxyls as a by-product. Our AOP systems work by speeding this reaction up to produce higher concentrations of hydroxyls (OH–) and enhance cleaning power. Our AOP systems go hand-in-hand with disinfection, since a single ozone generator can supply gas for the AOP system as well as direct ozone injection.

Illustration depicting the mechanisms and pathways involving hydroxyl radicals, vital agents in environmental chemistry and atmospheric cleansing processes.

How Do You Improve the Efficacy of Your Sanitation?

Cleaning your water upstream of the disinfection system is a good idea. By removing the non-microbial contaminants from solution, your sanitizing agents (e.g. ozone) will be more effective since there are fewer targets for the ozone to react with. Purifico has a line of filtration and AOP products that can be incorporated to purify your water and enhance pathogen removal.

 

Which Factors Affect Ozone Efficacy?

  • BOD and COD
  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Contact Time
  • Organism
Ozone and Hydroxyl Radicals: Two Jobs, One System Two Oxidizers, Two Jobs Oxidation potential in volts, and what each one handles best Ozone (O3) 2.07 V Best at: disinfection Kills bacteria, viruses, fungi Oxidizes iron, manganese, odors Works through the whole system Leaves only oxygen behind Hydroxyl radical (OH-) 2.80 V Best at: purification Breaks down pesticides Attacks dissolved organics Less selective, reacts faster Poor disinfectant on its own An AOP system produces both from one ozone generator

Common Questions About Ozone Water Purification

What does ozone water purification remove?

Ozone oxidizes dissolved organic matter, pesticide residues, iron, manganese, sulfides, and the compounds behind odor and color. It also destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the same pass. What it cannot remove is dissolved salts such as sodium and chloride, which need filtration or reverse osmosis.

Is purification the same as disinfection?

No. Disinfection targets living organisms. Purification removes non-living chemical and organic pollutants. Ozone is the stronger disinfectant, hydroxyl radicals are stronger on chemical contaminants, and most systems deliver a balance of both.

What is an advanced oxidation process?

An AOP generates reactive oxygen species such as hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide alongside ozone. Purifico AOP systems speed up the reaction that turns ozone into hydroxyls, which raises cleaning power for heavily polluted source water. A single ozone generator can feed both the AOP stage and direct ozone injection.

Do I need an AOP system or is ozone enough?

Most agricultural producers find that an ozone system already exceeds their purification needs, since disinfection also breaks down a large share of chemical contaminants. AOP makes sense when the source water carries a heavy pesticide or organic load.

What lowers ozone efficacy in practice?

Five factors matter most: BOD and COD levels, water temperature, pH, contact time, and which organism you are targeting. High organic load consumes ozone before it reaches pathogens, which is why pre-filtration upstream of the injection point improves results.

Does purified water still need filtration?

Usually yes. Removing solids and organics upstream leaves fewer targets for the ozone to react with, so every gram of ozone goes further. Purifico supplies filtration and AOP products that pair with the disinfection stage.

Sources

OrganizationReference
International Ozone AssociationOzone and advanced oxidation in water treatment
Health CanadaGuidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: technical documents on ozonation
Canadian Council of Ministers of the EnvironmentCanadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Agricultural Water Uses
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsWater Quality for Agriculture, Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29
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