When ozone and AOP are mixed
into the stream of water, they oxidize many resistant chemicals, which are
known as Advanced Toxic Contaminants (ATCs). These include free organisms such
as Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Legionella;
pharmaceuticals, herbicides and insecticides; and cleaning byproducts such as
chloramines.
AOP also produces a
short-term active residual, as well as a long-acting hydrogen peroxide
residual that will continue to sanitize and provide a measurably increased ORP.
How is AOP produced?
There are two major methods
for producing AOP, both of which are applicable to swimming pool and spa
water.
The first method is to
produce ozone with an ozone generator - of either the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV)
or corona discharge (CD) type - and mix that ozone with a stream of water.
This ozonated water is then exposed to germicidal UVC downstream. This
combination of ozone, UVC and water generates hydroxyl radicals, which are
used up rapidly due to their high reaction rate.
The second method uses a VUV
ozone generator to both create ozone and generate hydroxyl radicals. In this
method, two dominant UV wavelengths - the 185 nm (VUV) ozone-producing
frequency and the 254 nm (UVC) germicidal frequency - are generated from the
mercury arc.
VUV systems that generate
both ozone and hydroxyls are common in the pool and spa industry. In these
systems, the VUV within the generator converts oxygen to ozone. This ozone is
then exposed to the germicidal UVC, and to water vapor, to produce hydroxyl
radicals and hydrogen peroxide.
In 2006, a third AOP design
was developed - this hybrid design controls the lamp contamination variables,
and also adds enhanced generation of both ozone and hydroxyl formation. The
ozone generator contains both ozone producing VUV and germicidal UVC, plus
high voltage electrical fields produced by a high-frequency power supply, and
rectifiers to accelerate the AOP process.
Prozone Patented Hybrid
Skid Mount AOP System
AOP Advantages
These designs offer certain
advantages over traditional corona discharge or ultraviolet systems. Aside
from the mechanical benefits of typical VUV ozone generators - such as
simplicity, long life and effective biological destruction - they also offer a
number of unique attributes. Chief among these is the fact that AOP systems
produce a gaseous form of hydroxyl radicals for both air and water, which
generate potent chemical reactions that can effectively destroy contaminants.
The logistical advantages are
also significant: AOP can be quickly added to existing circulation systems,
adding these capabilities without significant increases in cost or complexity
over a traditional ozone system. In addition, AOP meets current and proposed
health standards, because it is used as an oxidizer as an adjunct to existing
sanitation systems.
For all these reasons, AOP
may be an ideal solution for larger pools that must deal with contaminant
concerns - particularly in areas where state or municipal laws require quick
and effective treatment of these issues. If a traditional ozone or UV system
isn't meeting all the pool's needs, it could be time to look into the more
powerful sanitization AOP can provide.
Prozone skid mount
Corona Discharge AOP system
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