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This section focuses on providing information about the nature of activated
oxygen and ozone, with a focus on the importance of atmospheric oxygen.
Activated Oxygen
Oxygen is the eighth element of the periodic table, and
has an atomic weight of 15.9994. Oxygen was the atomic weight standard
of comparison for all other elements until 1961 when the International
Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry adopted carbon 12 as the new basis.
Oxygen comprises about 49% of the mass of Earth's
crust, and 28% of the mass of Earth as a whole.
It is the 3rd most common element in the known universe.
It's not surprising, then, that oxygen is the most important
element to all higher forms of biological life. While it may be true
that we are "carbon based" life forms, without a sustained
source of oxygen, we are only able to stay alive for a few moments.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to state that we are oxygen-based
life forms existing in carbon-based containers.
Today, oxygen comprises between 19% and 20.95%
of the air we breath. Carbon Dioxide levels are currently rising at a rate of about 1.2 PPM per year. In 1945 and 1946, Swiss scientists measured atmospheric
oxygen levels at 22%. This is a drastic change in air quality. If this frightening
trend continues, the consequences may be disastrous.
Scientists, using soil sample analysis to study oxygen
levels during the Permian Period, have discovered that the oxygen content
during this very "life friendly" period was 30%. Furthermore,
these scientists also discovered that oxygen levels during the "Great
Dying" period, where massive extinction events occured, had dropped
to 16%, eventually "bottoming out" at 12%. During this time
when oxygen was at its lowest levels, 90% of all marine life died,
as well as nearly 75% of all land-based plants and animals.
"Oxygen dropped from its highest level to its
lowest level ever in only 20 million years.."
" ...Animals that once were able to cross mountain passes quite easily suddenly
had their movements severely restricted."
- Raymond Huey of the University of Washington2
The shock of an 18% drop in oxygen content over a 20
million year period can hardly compare with the reality humanity is
faced with in modern times: A 2-3% drop in oxygen levels in less than
100 years. Activated oxygen-based technologies may one day become a
critical component to the healthy survival of mankind, if they aren't
already.
- - -
The oxygen we breathe is called molecular dioxygen (
O2 ), a very stable homonuclear diatomic molecule. "Atomic" refers
to a single atom of an element, and "di" refers to "two" atoms
of the same element bound together. "Homonuclear" refers
to the elements being bound together in their elemental state, without
a chemical bond with any other element. Our Earth's atmosphere is made
up of over 99% diatomic molecules ( O2 and N2 ).
Activated Oxygen and Ozone
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Martinus Van Marum
Credited with the Discovery of Ozone,
1785
( In 1840, Christian Friedrich Schöenbein
Correctly classified it )
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Nikola Tesla's Ozone Generator
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Ozone
Creation in the Chapman Cycle:
O2 + hv ---> 2O ( O + O ) - Energy--
in this case, hard ultraviolet light ( 185 nm - 220 nm )-- breaks the
molecular oxygen bond, producing two, independent atoms of oxygen.
Any excess energy left after the reaction is transferred to oxygen
as kinetic energy.
M + O + O2 ---> M + O3 - An oxygen
atom reacts with an oxygen molecule to form ozone. A third body (denoted
as M) is required to conserve momentum and allow this reaction to occur.
The third body is also required to carry away the kinetic energy released
by the spontaneous reaction between the oxygen atom and oxygen molecule.
The resulting molecule of ozone is extremely unstable.
It will rapidly degrade while decomposing matter, or, in cases where
little or no reactive matter is present, it will degrade by loss of
energy, reverting back to O2.
Every atom of oxygen has six electrons in the outer orbital
valence shell. However ( in its solid state form ), it takes eight electrons
to completely fill the outer orbital shell. One can see why O2 is so
predominant in nature. Each atom of oxygen shares two electrons ( with
a total of 4 electrons being shared ), and thus both atoms of oxygen
have filled their outer orbital shells, thus reaching a chemically stable
state.
Looking at the diagram, one can see that with ozone ( O3
), there is one stable bond between two molecules of oxygen. Then, there
is a third atom of oxygen, which has the standard six electrons in the
outer shell. This third atom, however, is "borrowing" exactly
one electron from the O2 molecule.
It is this 3rd, negatively charged atom of oxygen that
is the key component in activated oxygen. It is what
makes ozone the 2nd most powerful oxidizer in nature ( second only to
flourine ).
When ozone reacts with any substance, ( as an example,
2O3 ---> 3O2 ), this third
atom of oxygen is liberated and is responsible for all oxidation "work" done.
What Does Activated Oxygen, by way of Ozonation, Do?
The Disinfecting power of Ozone: Ozone kills germs
that cause decay.
Bacteria
When a high enough concentration of residual ozone (
ozone that is not instantly reacting with substances in the environment
) comes in contact with bacteria, the ozone reacts. Kinetic energy
is released, and the single "activated" atom of oxygen is
liberated, destroying the cell wall of the bacteria. Once the cell
wall is ruptured, the cytoplasm is dispersed, and thus it is impossible
for the bacteria to reactivate. This is a process known as cell lysing.
Due to the fact that the ozone does not need to penetrate
the cell wall, activated oxygen kills pathogens 3,125 times faster
than chlorine, and without any chemical toxic residue left behind by
the ozone.
How much ozone is needed for disinfection? Ozone's kill
rate is proportional to its residual concentration. In one study, at
500 to 600 micrograms of ozone per m3 for one hour, 99% reduction in
all bacterial species was observed.
The above studies were done by testing ozone against
air-borne bacteria. In fact, ozone kills bacteria 6,000 times faster
than chlorine, when used in water.
Virii
Ozone eliminates viruses in a similiar manner as bacteria.
Ozone breaks apart lipid molecules at sites of multiple bond configurations.
Once the lipid envelope of the virus is fragmented, its DNA or RNA
core cannot survive.
With non-enveloped viruses, also called "naked viruses",
ozone reacts with the amino acids and capsid proteins, forming protein
hydroxides and protein hydroperoxides.
Viruses have no defense against oxidative stress.
Fungi
While fungus is more resistant to ozone than bacteria
and viruses, ozone still gets the job done. Fungus inhibited and destroyed
by ozone include: Candida, Aspergilus, Histoplasma, Actinomycoses,
and Cryptococcus. The presence of many disulfide bonds had been noted
in these types of virii, making this a possible site for oxidative
inactivation by ozone.
The Cleansing Power of Ozone: Activated Oxygen
Oxidizes and Decomposes Matter
Ozone oxidizes and/or ionizes many forms of matter. The
great benefit of this process, considering practical applications,
is ozone's ability to alter, decompose and/or neutralize materials
that are toxic, without creating additional toxic compounds from the
use of ozone ( as is the case when using chemical compounds ).
Ozone will oxidize metals (except gold, platinum, and
iridium) to oxides of the metals in their highest oxidation state:
2 Cu2+ +
2 H+ + O3 ---> 2 Cu3+ +
H2O + O2
In many cases, these oxidized metals are far easier
to remove from any environment than when in their elemental form...
Especially when methods of sorption are used in
the removal process!6
Ozone transforms oxides into peroxides:
SO2 + O3 ---> SO3 +
O2
Ozone will convert cyanides into cyanates ( which are
one thousand times less toxic ):
CN- + O3 ---> CNO-
+ O2
Activated Oxygen Removes Pesticides and Antibiotics
from foods
Safe concentrations of ozone, when used by bubbling ozone
gas through water, can actually decontaminate fruits and vegetables.
Not only has research shown that many of the most dangerous pesticides
can be removed via ozonation, but this process can extend the shelf
life of foods by greatly reducing bacterial counts in the produce.
Furthermore, the same research has demonstrated that
antibiotics in meats can also be removed via ozonation. Utilizing ozonation
with food prior to consumption results in a great reduction of the
toxic chemical load that is present in modern produce and meats.
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Supporting Resources and Research
Ozonating
Meat and Food - A visual example of using ozone bubbled through
water to sterilize food.
Laboratory Tests - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
- Laboratory testing done in Maylasia demonstrates activated oxygen's
effect on chemicals in food and bacterial contaminants. Tests quoted
include nutrient comparisons, shelf life extension testing, antimicrobial
effect, effect of ozone on pesticides.
Oxygen saturation in ozonated water - General testing done
confirms that ozonated water has a far greater saturation of oxygen than
pre-ozonated, stagnant water. Freshly ozonated water has been measured
to dissolved oxygen levels above 85% saturation compared to 40%. Read
the abstract.
We wrote this document in cooperation with the Southern
Nevada Research Corporation:
What
is Activated Oxygen
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Content Copyright 2007 AVRA unless otherwise specified
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copyright 2007 AVRA
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Silver
Ozone Therapy & Generators
Primary
Physiological Effects/Benefits of Ozone Therapy ---- Ozone
Sauna Therapy - General Information & Safety ---- Ed
Mccabe: Oxygenation & Ozone Therapy | A History with References----Ozone
Generators & Equipment - UV, Cold Plasma, Corona, Ozone Tents,
Saunas ----Ozonated & Ozonating
Olive Oil ----Ozone,
Oxygen, and Sauna Therapy Email List/Group ----Low
Cost Ozone Generator Kit: UV or Cold Spark for Ozone Steam Saunas ----Ultrasonic
Ozone Spa Baths - Hydrotherapy & Balneotherapy----Activated
Oxygen & Ozone----Ozone
is Good? Ozone is Bad?----The
Story of Ozone----Ozone and ORMUS/ORMES
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