Ozone (O3) is classically used as an oxidant and disinfectant in a lot of industries, although has a variety of other uses elsewhere. Thus, although a unique gas, it can be found in a wide range of industries. And with Ozone being a highly toxic gas, it is important to utilise an Ozone gas monitor wherever possible. If you are unsure whether Ozone is present in your industry or you are just curious as to where Ozone is present, read the article below. We discuss all of the above and our detectably better Ozone gas monitor solutions to help in preventing Ozone poisoning.
What are the Hazards of Ozone Gas?
As mentioned above, Ozone gas is highly toxic. It has a highly pungent smell and due to is oxidation qualities, it causes damage to mucous and respiratory tissues in animals, and also tissues in plants, above concentrations of about 100 ppb. Thus, making Ozone a potent respiratory and pollutant hazard near ground level.
Ozone has a STEL of as low as 0.2ppm and no TWA. Demonstrating just how hazardous Ozone is to the health of personnel and to the environment. Thus, Ozone gas monitors are vital to prevent the toxic effects of Ozone amongst your workplace.
Where is Ozone Present?
O3 can be present in a wide range of industries, with most of them consisting of industries needing an oxidant or disinfectant as part of the company’s process. Here are just a few of the most common industries where you will find Ozone gas:
Industrial wastewater (or Effluents) can hold a large number of contaminants, such as various VOC’s, cyanides, and sanitary waste. Therefore, water treatment companies will use a wide range of chemicals to remove these, with one being Ozone. Ozonation is favoured over chlorine by water treatment companies due to its ability to easily degrade organic and inorganic pollutants and its low cost. Thus, it is used frequently in this industry and is therefore stored in large quantities, warranting the use of a fixed or portable ozone gas monitor.
Ozone’s effective disinfectant qualities means it is utilised in a variety of different forms throughout the hospitals to help keep areas safe for staff, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The most common method of disinfecting is by releasing 20ppm concentrations of Ozone gas into rooms via generators, filling the room and disinfecting all surfaces. UV lights are also utilised to disinfect areas, with these releasing a small amount of Ozone gas too. Thus, portable ozone gas monitors would need to be utilised to help in spot checking rooms once the disinfection is complete due to the high amount of Ozone gas released.
As well as being an effective disinfectant, Ozone is a highly effective bleaching chemical. It creates bright and stable pulp for a very low cost, making it favourable in the paper industry. Additionally, Ozone offers a more environmentally friendly way to bleach pulp in comparison to Chlorine (for example). And due to the strict regulations on effluent in the paper industry, this gives Ozone the edge over other chemicals. Ozone is used in high concentrations to get the desired brightness of the paper pulp and will be used widely across paper mills. Therefore, implementing an ozone gas monitor is vital to ensure the safety of personnel.
You wouldn’t think that Ozone gas monitors would have their place in the Automotive industry, however Ozone is used widely across this industry due to its cleaning and sterilisation qualities. Similar to the medical industry, Ozone is released into cars via O3 generators, filling the cars and reaching areas that a normal car cleaning couldn’t, such as the air vents. This is used widely across the automotive industry, from the creation of cars all the way down to use in some car washes. And due to the high concentration of O3 being released, it is vital to spot check using an Ozone gas monitor to ensure the area is safe for personnel and customers.
These are just a few examples of industries where Ozone gas monitors are required, other applications include:
- House Cleaning – removing mould and mildew
- Commercial Laundries
- Cooling towers
- Hydraulic fracking
- Cannabis industry
Detectably Better Ozone Gas Monitor Solution
IGD can provide a wide range of Ozone gas monitor solutions, including both fixed and portable.
The UNI Ozone gas monitor from mPower is the ideal solution for Ozone gas detection. Its lightweight, durable and flexible model ensures easy and comfortable spot checking and personal protection for O3 gas. With its large LCD display and long battery life, you are guaranteed to be continually updated on the current gas levels in your environment, keeping you safe. Find out more about the UNI here.
IGD can offer fixed Ozone gas monitors in the form of the TOC-750 safe area and the TOC-30 Analogue.
The 750 safe area Ozone gas monitor is ideal for any safe area Ozone application. Featuring our unique 2-Wire Addressable gas detection technology, providing low cost, high reliability gas detection for your Ozone application. Additionally, our 750 Ozone detector features a unique labyrinth sensor design. Thus, making it ideal for ozone applications such as wastewater and water treatment, as accidental water splashes will not affect the sensor performance, for a highly durable and long-lasting Ozone Gas Monitor.
The TOC-30 is the perfect solution for any environment requiring 4-20mA gas detection. This device ensures you get all the best features of the 750 safe area, such as the unique labyrinth design, on a suitable 4-20mA sensor. Furthermore, the TOC-30 is massively cost effective and efficient, making it ideal for ozone applications.
Both the TOC-30 and the 750 Safe area Ozone gas monitors come with pre-calibrated smart sensors with plug-and-play technology, as well as pre-calibrated swappable sensor fronts. Thus, installation and servicing is massively simplified, ensuring quick and easy replacements, so you can get to your next job faster. Find out more about the TOC-30 and 70 Safe area Ozone gas monitors here.
Contact Us Today
Require Ozone gas detection or have another gas detection requirement? Contact the team at IGD today. Being the oldest gas detection company in the world has given us a wealth of expertise in a massive range of gases and gas detection. We can provide you with a detectably better solution and full support from our team on any gas detection requirement you have.