Ozone Effects on Specific Bacteria, Viruses and Molds
Ozone Effects on Specific Bacteria, Viruses and Molds
Bacteria are microscopically small, single-cell creatures having a primitive structure. The bacteria body is sealed by a relatively solid cell membrane. Ozone interferes with the metabolism of bacterium-cells, most likely through inhibiting and blocking the operation of the enzymatic control system. A sufficient amount of ozone breaks through the cell membrane and this leads to the destruction of the bacteria.
Viruses are small, independent particles, built of crystals and macromolecules. Unlike bacteria, they multiply only within the host cell. They transform the protein of the host cell into proteins of their own. Ozone destroys most viruses by diffusing through the protein coat into the nucleic acid core, resulting in damage of the viral RNA. At higher concentrations, ozone destroys the capsid, or exterior protein shell, by oxidation, so the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid) structures of the microorganism are affected.
PATHOGEN | DOSAGE |
---|---|
Aspergillus Niger (Black Mount) | Destroyed by 1.5 to 2 mg/I |
Bacillus Bacteria | Destroyed by 0.2 m/I within 30 seconds |
Bacillus Anthracis (causes anthrax in sheep, cattle and pigs. Also a human pathogen) | Ozone susceptible |
Bacillus cereus | 99% destruction after 5-min at 0.12 mg/l in water |
B. cereus (spores) | 99% destruction after 5-min at 2.3 mg/l in water |
Bacillus subtilis | 90% reduction at 0.10-ppm for 33 minutes |
Bacteriophage f2 | 99.99% destruction at 0.41 mg/l for 10-seconds in water |
Botrytis cinerea | 3.8 mg/l for 2 minutes |
Candida Bacteria | Ozone susceptible |
Clavibacter michiganense | 99.99% destruction at 1.1 mg/l for 5 minutes |
Cladosporium | 90% reduction at 0.10-ppm for 12.1 minutes |
Clostridium Bacteria | Ozone susceptible |
Clostridium Botulinum Spores. Its toxin paralyzes the central nerve system, being a poison multiplying in food and meals. | 0.4 to 0.5 mg/l threshold value |
Coxsackie Virus A9 | 95% destruction at 0.035 mg/l for 10-seconds in water |
Coxsackie Virus B5 | 99.99% destruction at 0.4 mg/l for 2.5-minutes in sludge effluent |
Diphtheria Pathogen | Destroyed by 1.5 to 2 mg/l |
Eberth Bacillus (Typhus abdomanalis). Spreads typically by aqueous infection and causes typhoid. | Destroyed by 1.5 to 2 mg/l |
Echo Virus 29: The virus most sensitive to ozone. | After a contact time of 1 minute at 1 mg/l of ozone, 99.999% killed. |
Enteric virus | 95% destruction at 4.1 mg/l for 29 minutes in raw wastewater |
Escherichia Coli Bacteria (from feces) | Destroyed by 0.2 mg/l within 30 seconds in air |
E-coli (in clean water) | 99.99% destruction at 0.25 mg/l for 1.6 minutes |
E-coli (in wastewater) | 99.9% destruction at 2.2 mg/l for 19 minutes |
Encephalomyocarditis Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l. |
Endamoebic Cysts Bacteria | Ozone susceptible |
Enterovirus Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l. |
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici | 1.1 mg/l for 10 minutes |
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonogea | 99.99 % destruction at 1.1 mg/l for 20 minutes |
GDVII Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l. |
Hepatitis A virus | 99.5% reduction at 0.25 mg/l for 2-seconds in a phosphate buffer |
Herpes Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds wit 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l. |
Influenza Virus | 0.4 to 0.5 mg/l threshold value |
Klebs-Loffler Bacillus | Destroyed by 1.5 to 2 mg/l |
Legionella pneumophila | 99.99% destruction at 0.32 mg/l for 20 minutes in distilled water |
Luminescent Basidiomycetes (species having no melanin pigment). | Destroyed in 10 minutes at 100-ppm |
Mucor piriformis | 3.8 mg/l for 2 minutes |
Mycobacterium avium | 99.9% with a CT value of 0.17 in water (scientifically reviewed document) |
Mycobacterium foruitum | 90% destruction at 0.25 mg/l for 1.6 minutes in water |
Penicillium Bacteria | Ozone susceptible |
Phytophthora parasitica | 3.8 mg/l for 2 minutes |
Poliomyelitis Virus | 99.99% kill with 0.3 to 0.4 mg/l in 3-4 minutes |
Poliovirus type 1 | 99.5% destruction at 0.25 mg/l for 1.6 minutes in water |
Proteus Bacteria | Very susceptible |
Pseudomonas Bacteria | Very susceptible |
Rhabdovirus virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l |
Salmonella Bacteria | Very susceptible |
Salmonella typhimurium | 99.99% destruction at 0.25 mg/l for 1.67 minutes in water |
Schistosoma Bacteria | Very susceptible |
Staph epidermidis | 90% reduction at 0.1-ppm for 1.7 min |
Staphylococci | Destroyed by 1.5 to 2.0 mg/l |
Stomatitis Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l |
Streptococcus Bacteria | Destroyed by 0.2 mg/l within 30 seconds |
Verticillium dahliae | 99.99 % destruction at 1.1 mg/l for 20 minutes |
Vesicular Virus | Destroyed to zero level in less than 30 seconds with 0.1 to 0.8 mg/l |
Virbrio Cholera Bacteria | Very susceptible |
Vicia Faba progeny | Ozone causes chromosome aberration and its effect is twice that observed by the action of X-rays |
The effect of ozone below a certain critical concentration value is small or zero. Above this level all pathogens are eventually destroyed. This effect is called an “all-or-none response” and the critical level is called the “threshold value.”
Nanolife O3 Benefits
Advantages
- Strongest disinfectant available
- Strongest oxidizing agent available
- Is environmentally friendly
- Adds no chemicals (no chemical storage)
- Unstable – Leaves no residual (only oxygen)
- Allows ozone-advanced oxidation OH-
- Can lower overall operating costs
Disadvantages
- Unstable – must produce as needed
- Gas-liquid contacting equipment is required
- Generation/contacting can be complex, difficult to control
- Impurities can form undesired by-products
- System must be designed with personnel safety in mind
Ozone (o3)
Our High Voltage, High Frequency Corona Discharge enables us to achieve High Ozone Concentration of 8 – 12% by weight. Higher the concentration, better the dissolved ozone in water and lower the oxygen feed gas requirement. Built on rich sensitivites and creativity, continuous improvement and innovation is our strength and we will continue to offer products and services that bring satisfaction and evoke inspiration that exceeds the expectations of our customers.

Ozone is a Natural gas
Ozone is an unstable gas and it is made of just one thing oxygen, it has very short life, which means it reacts and disappears rapidly. Any pathogen or contaminant that can be disinfected, altered or removed via an oxidation process will be affected by ozone. It is the strongest of all molecules available for disinfection in water treatment & is second only to elemental fluorine in oxidizing power. Ozone gas produced by ozone generator, which oxidants and disinfectant for air and water treatment. At Faraday Ozone, we are focusing our efforts on various applications and markets in which we can make significant impacts.
Why Ozone?
Ozone oxidation is the most excellent and environment friendly to disinfects the water and air.
It works effectively against bacteria, viruses compared to chlorine. In addition, oxidizing
properties can also reduce the concentration of iron, manganese, sulfur and reduce or eliminate
taste and odour problems.
Ozone oxides the iron, manganese, and sulfur in the water to form insoluble
metal oxides or elemental sulfur. These insoluble particles are then removed by post-filtration.
Organic particles and chemicals will be eliminated through either coagulation or chemical oxidation.
Ozone is unstable and it will degrade over a time frame ranging from a few seconds to 30 minutes.
The rate of degradation is a function of water chemistry, pH and water temperature.

Oxygen – Ozone Cycle
Ozone is fundamentally made up by oxygen. When an oxygen molecule (O2) is exposed to electric
high voltage (or UV-light in the stratosphere), the oxygen molecule (O2) is split into two
oxygen atoms (O1). The resulting oxygen atom (O1) to connects with oxygen molecules (O2) and
ozone (O3) is formed. Ozone then reacts with other substances and the single oxygen atom (O1)
disconnects from the ozone molecule (O3), which then again turns into an oxygen molecule.
The ozone is injected into the water or air stream, where it inactivates contaminants by actually
rupturing the organism call wall. At the heart of a corona discharge ozone system is the
dielectric. The electrical charge is diffused over this dielectric surface, creating
an electrical surface, creating an electrical field or “Corona”.

Ozone Benefits
Ozone can be used in many applications and it is generated on site from oxygen, which
eliminates the need to haul chemicals or other dangerous products. In many applications ozone
saves money, environment & time. Ozone is much healthier & safer to use than harsh
caustic chemicals & it does an excellent job. There are many applications where thermo
oxidation is used to disinfect or clean. Ozone can do the same job as thermo oxidation,
but with the advantage of working in cold environments, this provides savings in energy & money.
- Ozone is 51% more powerful on bacterial cell walls than chlorine
- Ozone kills bacteria 3100 times faster than chlorine
- Ozone is the most powerful broad spectrum microbiological control agent available
- Ozone eliminates the use of hot water and conventional sanitizer
- Ozone virtually eliminates all chemical usage
- Ozone is chemical-free; it produces NO toxic by-products
- Ozone has full FDA-approval for direct-food contact application
- Ozone is clean and environment-friendly, its only by-product is oxygen
- Ozone is extremely effective as a disinfectant at relatively low concentrations
- Ozone is generated on site eliminating the transporting, storing and handling of hazardous materials
- Ozone is very inexpensive to produce and has an unlimited supply
- Ozone is much safer for employees than any conventional chemicals
- Ozone extends the shelf life of food products
- Ozone permits recycling of wastewater
- Ozone reduces Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Organisms killed by Ozone
One benefit is the variety of microbes ozone can kill with a small dose and residual. Many factors determine the residual, but generally, the higher the ozone production, the higher the residual and the longer it will last in the water. Required residual is dictated by the amount and type of microbes to be killed. When ozone degrades, it reverts back to oxygen, thus it is safe and not a chemical hazard to people, equipment or the environment.

Bacteria
- Achromobacter butyri NCI-9404
- Aeromonas harveyi NC-2
- Aeromonas salmonicida NC-1102
- Bacillus anthracis
- Bacillus cereus
- B. coagulans
- Bacillus globigii
- Bacillus licheniformis
- Bacillus megatherium sp.
- Bacillus paratyphosus
- B. prodigiosus
- Bacillus subtilis
- B. stearothermophilus
- Clostridium botulinum
- C. sporogenes
- Clostridium tetoni
- Cryptosporidium
- Coliphage
- Corynebacterium diphthriae
- Eberthella typhosa
- Endamoeba histolica
- Escherichia coli
- Escherichia coli
- Flavorbacterium SP A-3
- Leptospira canicola
- Listeria
- Micrococcus candidus
- Micrococcus caseolyticus KM-15
- Micrococcus spharaeroides
- Mycobacterium leprae
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Neisseria catarrhalis
- Phytomonas tumefaciens
- Proteus vulgaris
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Pseudomonas
- fluorscens (bioflims)
- Pseudomonas putida
- Salmonella choleraesuis
- Salmonella enteritidis
- Salmonella typhimurium
- SalmonSalmonella typhimurium
- Salmonella typhosa
- Salmonella paratyphiSarcina lutea
- Seratia marcescens
- Shigella dysenteriae
- Shigella flexnaria
- Shigella paradysenteriae
- Spirllum rubrum
- Staphylococcus albus
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus ‘C’
- Streptococcus faecalis
- Streptococcus hemolyticus
- Streptococcus lactis
- Streptococcus salivarius
- Streptococcus viridans
- Torula rubra
- Vibrio alginolyticus & angwillarum
- Vibrio clolarae
- Vibrio comma
- Virrio ichthyodermis NC-407
- V. parahaemolyticus ella typhosa
- Salmonella paratyphiSarcina lutea
- Seratia marcescens
- Shigella dysenteriae
- Shigella flexnaria
- Shigella paradysenteriae
- Spirllum rubrum
- Staphylococcus albus
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus ‘C’
- Streptococcus faecalis
- Streptococcus hemolyticus
- Streptococcus lactis
- Streptococcus salivarius
- Streptococcus viridans
- Torula rubra
- Vibrio alginolyticus & angwillarum
- Vibrio clolarae
- Vibrio comma
- Virrio ichthyodermis NC-407
- V. parahaemolyticus
Fungus & Molds Spores
- Aspergillus candidus
- Aspergillus flavus (yellowish-green)
- Aspergillus glaucus (bluish-green)
- Aspergillus niger (black)
- Aspergillus terreus, saitoi & oryzac
- Botrytis allii
- Colletotrichum lagenarium
- Fusarium oxysporum
- Grotrichum
- Mucor recomosus A & B (white-gray)
- Mucor piriformis
- Oospora lactis (white)
- Penicillium cyclopium
- P. chrysogenum & citrinum
- Penicillium digitatum (olive)
- Penicillium glaucum
- Penicillium expansum (olive)
- Penicillium egyptiacum
- Penicillium roqueforti (green)
- Rhizopus nigricans (black)
- Rhizopus stolonifer
Virus
- Adenovirus (type 7a)
- Bacteriophage (E.coli)
- Coxackie A9, B3, & B5
- Cryptosporidium
- Echovirus 1, 5, 12, & 29
- Encephalomyocarditis
- Hepatitis A
- HIV
- GD V11 Virus
- Onfectious hepatitis
- Influenza
- Legionella pneumophila
- Polio virus (Poliomyelitus) 1, 2 & 3
- Rotavirus
- Tobacco mosaic
- Vesicular Stomatitis
- COVID 19,SARS, H1N1 or similar Groups
Fungal Pathongens
- Alternaria solani
- Botrytis cinerea
- Fusarium oxysporum
- Monilinia fruiticola
- Monilinia laxa
- Pythium ultimum
- Phytophthora erythroseptica
- Phytophthora parasitica
- Rhizoctonia solani
- Rhizopus stolonifera
- Sclerotium rolfsii
- Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Yeast
- Baker’s yeast
- Candida albicans-all forms
- Common yeast cake
- saccharomyces cerevisiae
- saccharomyces ellipsoideus
- saccharomyces sp.
Protozoa
- Paramecium
- Nematode eggs
- Chlorella vulgaris (Algae)
- All Pathogenic & Non-pathogenic
Algae
- Chlorella vulgaris
- Thamnidium
- Trichoderma viride
- Verticillium albo-atrum
- Verticillium dahliae
Cysts
- Cryptosporidium parvum
- Giardia lamblia
- Giardia muris
Oxidation
Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which electrons are LOST by atoms, ions or molecules. Reduction is the GAIN of electrons. Regardless of the name similarity, oxidation reactions need not actually involve oxygen atoms or molecules.
Oxidation, for non-chemists and those who have forgotten high school chemistry, is commonly just burning or rusting. If done instantaneously, it is an explosion. If done rapidly, it is burning. If done slowly, it is corrosion. When acting at a molecular level, it is just plain oxidation or part of the oxidation-reduction process. It can occur in gaseous or solid states as well as in liquids.
Oxidation potential of Ozone
Species | Formula | Oxidation Potential, (eV) | Author Notes |
Fluorine | F | 3.06 | explosive in water |
Hydroxyl Radical | OH– | 2.80 | – very short half life (nano-seconds) – can be created using ozone, hydrogen peroxide & UV light |
Nascent Oxygen | O– | 2.42 | – rapidly combines with itself to form O2, or combines with an O2 molecule to form O3 – can be created via corona discharge & UV ozone generation |
Ozone | O3 | 2.07 | – excellent oxidizer in water or air – reverts back to oxygen – ideal for chemical synthesis & ozonolysis reactions |
Hydrogen Peroxide | H2O2 | 1.77 | liquid application only |
Hypochlorous Acid | HOCl | 1.49 | – primary ingredient in toilet bowl cleaners – can give off toxic chlorine gas |
Chlorine | Cl2 | 1.36 | – very toxic & poisonous – disagreeable odor |
Hypobromous Acid | HOBr | 1.33 | – considered a weak acid – unstable |
Chlorine Dioxide | ClO2 | 0.95 | – used primarily for bleaching pulp wood |
Oxidation Potential otherwise referred to as redox potential, is the measurement of the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons, and be reduced. Oxidation Potential is measured as a voltage. Greater oxidation potential indicates a greater tendency to be reduced, and thereby create an electron exchange with other chemical species.
Ozone has one of the highest oxidation potentials, lower only than fluorine atom, oxygen atom, and hydroxyl radical. Some of the reactions of ozone create the oxygen atom and hydroxyl radical to create an even higher oxidation potential than ozone alone.
Because
of the high oxidation potential, the oxygen molecule has a high
capacity to react with many compounds not easily oxidized by other
chemicals. This potential is especially important reactions with some
inorganic species such as FE+2 and I-. However, in many cases, there
is no explicit electron transfer, but rather an oxygen transfer from the
ozone molecule to the other compound.
Example of ion exchange oxidation of ozone and iron:
Fe+2 + O3 = FE+3 + O3-
Example of oxygen atom exchange oxidation of ozone and iron:
2Fe2+ + O3 + H2 O → 2Fe3+ + O2 + 2OH-
Both reactions can occur with organic and inorganic compounds. This is just one simple example of ozone oxidation reactions.