Use of ozone generator in food workshop

Ozone generator is a device used to produce ozone gas (O3). It is a good production and living tool. It can effectively improve the safety and quality of health products such as food, medicine, cosmetics, and improve human health. Ozone generator can be used for disinfection in food workshop.

Ozone is easy to decompose and cannot be stored. It needs to be produced on site and used on site (it can be stored for a short time under special circumstances). Therefore, ozone generators are required in all places where ozone can be used. Ozone generators are widely used in drinking water, sewage, industrial oxidation, food processing and preservation, space sterilization and other fields. The ozone gas generated by the ozone generator can be used directly or mixed with liquid through a mixing device to participate in the reaction. Let's further understand the ozone generator from the working principle, main function, advantages, and operating procedures of the ozone generator.

1 Working principle of ozone generator

The principle is: using high-voltage ionization (or chemical or photochemical reaction) to decompose and polymerize part of the oxygen in the air into ozone, which is an allotropic transformation process of oxygen; it can also be obtained by electrolysis of water. The instability of ozone makes it difficult to store in bottles. Generally, it can only be produced on-site using an ozone generator and used as it is produced. The classification of ozone generators is divided according to the way ozone is produced. There are three main types of ozone generators: one is high-voltage discharge type, the second is ultraviolet irradiation type, and the third is electrolysis type. According to different installation methods, ozone generators can be divided into mobile ozone generators, wall-mounted ozone generators, portable ozone generators, etc.

2 The main functions of ozone generators

1. Sterilization and disinfection.

Studies have shown that ozone is a broad-spectrum, high-efficiency, and fast bactericidal agent. It can quickly kill various pathogens, viruses and microorganisms that cause diseases in humans and animals. Ozone is a very strong oxidizing substance. Using its oxidizing property, it can destroy the biological structure of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms in a relatively short period of time, making them lose their ability to survive. There are many other compounds that use oxidizing properties to kill microorganisms to achieve sterilization effects, such as common chlorine, bleaching powder, potassium permanganate, etc. However, these fungicides are not only slower than ozone in sterilization speed, but also harmful to human body.

2. Detoxification.

Ozone can effectively remove toxic gases such as C0, S02, mustard gas, etc. through oxidation reaction. Ozone dissolved in water can oxidize and decompose to effectively remove toxic substances in water such as heavy metal ions, organic poisons, cyanide, sulfide, and pesticides such as dichlorvos, omethoate, and malathion.

3. Protection and preservation.

Due to the strong killing effect of ozone on bacteria and microorganisms, ozone generators can use ozone water to treat meat and other foods to achieve the effects of preservation, odor elimination, and preservation. When ozone is generated, a large number of negative ions can also be generated. Some negative ions in the air can effectively inhibit the respiration of fruits and vegetables and delay their metabolic process. At the same time, ozone can kill pathogens that cause fruit and vegetable rot, and decompose metabolic wastes with ripening effects such as ethylene, alcohols, aldehydes, and aromatic substances produced during the storage of fruits and vegetables. In this way, under the action of ozone and negative ions, the metabolism of fruits and vegetables and the growth and spread of microbial pathogens are inhibited, thereby delaying their post-ripening and aging, preventing them from rotting and deteriorating, and achieving the effect of preservation. Studies have shown that ozone can extend the storage period of food, beverages and fruits and vegetables by 3-10 times.

4. Deodorization and odor removal.

The main components of the ozone machine that cause odor and corruption in nature are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, etc. Ozone can react chemically with them to oxidize and decompose them into non-toxic and odorless substances, thereby achieving the effect of deodorization.

3 Advantages

In the field of industrial product production, humans use more ozone for its sterilization and disinfection properties. Ozone sterilization has the advantages of fast, high efficiency, energy saving, environmental protection, and no secondary pollution, which are specifically manifested in the following aspects:

1. Fast sterilization

Ozone mainly uses its strong oxidizing property for sterilization and disinfection. This sterilization and disinfection process is completed in an instant, and the sterilization speed is many times faster than disinfectants such as chlorine.

2. Broad spectrum of sterilization

Ozone is a broad-spectrum bactericide that can not only kill the reproductive bodies, spores, viruses, fungi and protozoan spores of harmful bacteria, but also kill and destroy botulism, toxins and Rickettsia.

3. High efficiency of sterilization

Ultraviolet disinfection has problems such as short sterilization distance, weak sterilization ability, and dead corners, and low sterilization efficiency. Ozone is a gas. After being produced by an ozone generator, it can quickly diffuse to food workshops, office areas and other places that need sterilization and disinfection, and can avoid the problem of dead corners in sterilization space.

4. Environmental protection and sanitation

After ozone sterilization and disinfection, it will quickly decompose into oxygen by itself, without residue and secondary pollution. It is an environmentally friendly sterilizer.

5. Easy to operate

Ozone sterilization equipment can be installed indoors or in central air-conditioning systems, air purification systems, and large sterilization equipment. The sterilization time of the ozone sterilization equipment can be automatically set according to the concentration and time of ozone required for sterilization, which is easy to operate. However, the time required for sterilization and disinfection with epoxyacetic acid, acetic acid and formaldehyde is longer.

6. Economical and affordable

Many people believe that in the production process of food, medicine, cosmetics and other products, the use of ozone generators for sterilization and disinfection will cost a lot of money. In fact, this view is wrong. The ozone generator is easy to use and can be used by plugging in. It does not require complicated operations and does not require professionals to use it, which can save wages for employees. At the same time, the energy consumption of using an ozone generator is relatively small. From these aspects, the use of ozone sterilization and disinfection is an economical and affordable sterilization method, which is conducive to controlling production costs.

Although mobile ozone generators have many advantages in application, if they are not used correctly, they will not only fail to achieve the desired sterilization and disinfection effect, but also cause malignant accidents such as combustion and explosion.

4 Operating procedures for ozone generators

In order to improve the safety and effectiveness of the use of ozone generators, the following procedures should be followed:

1. Ozone generators are generally powered by high frequency and high voltage. Ozone generators cannot be used in environments where conductors or explosive media exist. When using an ozone generator, you must follow the safe operating procedures.

2. If the environmental sanitation of the workplace is poor, it will affect the use of the ozone generator. For example, when used in a high humidity or gas environment with high impurities or oil content, the ozone generator and components are easily contaminated with dirt or stains, which affects the amount of ozone generated and reduces the sterilization and disinfection effect of ozone.

The mobile ozone generator should be cleaned in time after one year of use. When designing an ozone generator, the mechanical equipment factory should consider the convenience of component replacement to facilitate equipment maintenance.