THE

APPLICATION OF
OZONE

IN THE
TREATMENT OF
BANANAS
FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

OZONE
WHAT IS OZONE?
OZONE is an allotropic variety of oxygen, whose triatomic molecule O 3
is generated by the activation of the O 2 molecule; this activation may be
triggered by an electrical discharge irradiated by ultra-violet rays. OZONE is a
natural component of clean, dry air, as are nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc.

OZONE is obtained from oxygen by activating it by means of electrical

discharges or flows (exactly the same process occurs in nature on stormy days
with electrical discharges). Subjected to the effect of electrical currents it is
transformed into active or nascent oxygen (OZONE O 3) with great oxidizing
strength (the strongest after fluoride), losing one of its 3 atoms rapidly to return
to its former state as ordinary oxygen.

PROPERTIES OF OZONE
When ozone enters any space, it has three fundamental effects:
-

Microbicide effect:
This is perhaps the most important property of ozone and the one with
the most practical applications.
It has a broad spectrum effect that encompasses the elimination of:
A) BACTERIA (Bactericide).
B) VIRUSES (Virucide).
C) MOULDS AND FUNGI (Fungicide).
D) SPORES (Sporicide).

Deodorant effect:
This is one of its most useful properties in public spaces of all kinds and
in the treatment of certain odours caused by industry.
In closed spaces with large congregations of people, the cause of this
usually organic material in suspension and the action of various microorganisms on this, which is the cause of normal human body odour, as
well as the smells of tobacco and food.

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

Oxygenating effect:
Ozone, as we have explained, is highly unstable and rapidly breaks
down into atomic oxygen (O) and molecular oxygen (O 2). The first of
these is responsible for many of the properties described here. The
second is a side-effect of this. However, it is not an undesirable sideeffect; on the contrary, it is responsible for adding to these stuffy
atmospheres the oxygen they lacked, so that the air becomes more
breathable.

APPLICATIONS OF OZONE
It is a well-known fact all over the world that if used appropriately,
OZONE acts as a BACTERICIDE, GERMICIDE, VIRULICIDE, FUNGICIDE
and DEODORANT.
The use of ozone as a disinfectant in drinking water plants or tanks is a highly
viable option, as it permits a range of treatment processes to be carried out in
just one or two steps, without the risks associated with transportation and
handling associated with chlorine and other chemicals.
Due to its great oxidizing strength, ozone eliminates microorganisms
with relative ease that are resistant to other means or disinfecting agents, such
as the Cryptosporidium Giardiay. Indeed, to eliminate the scabs of these
protozoans with chlorine requires high concentrations during long periods of
time.
Due to its great oxidizing strength, the contact periods needed to
eliminate viruses, bacteria and protozoans are very short (a matter of seconds).
The use of ozone in water purification offers numerous advantages, as
described below.
Ozone:
-

Eliminates undesirable flavours and odours in water.

Adds oxygen to water.
Oxidizes iron, magnesium and other metals.
Destroys and removes algae.
Reacts with and removes organic material present.
Does not form Trihalomethanes, unlike Chlorine.
Acts as a coagulant.

As we can see, the use of ozone in the food industry is highly

recommended in order to prevent the proliferation of micro-organisms such as
Salmonella in food at every stage of food processing, disinfection of tools and
FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

and machinery, water for general use, food cleaning, washing the hands of food
handling personnel and disinfecting the air in workshops and rooms.
Considering the aspects of action, ease of handling, hazards, safety
periods and effectiveness of chemical agents in general use for disinfection,
ozone offers a series of major advantages, listed below:
OZONE: GREAT DISINFECTING CAPABILITY, eliminating both
bacteria and moulds, as well as their spores. Since it can be applied in
air as well as in water, it ensures the destruction of numerous microorganisms to be found on the surface of food products when they are
being processed or when placed in refrigerated rooms and containers.
OZONIZERS: THEIR USE IS AUTHORIZED IN THE PRESENCE OF
BOTH HUMANS AND FOODS, as well as in refrigerated spaces
(Spanish code: UNE 400-201-94; Royal Decree 168/1985; FDA US
Food and Drug Agency). It offers the possibility of disinfecting
atmospheres and keeping them clean, without the need to empty
refrigerated spaces to carry out the process.
OZONE GENERATORS: CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREVENTION OF
RISKS, by eliminating the risk factors present in chemical disinfection
treatments that are caused by the toxicity of the product, as they remain
below minimum levels as specified in relevant regulations and produce
no by-products.
OZONE: ADVANTAGES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: ozone generates
no emitted by-products; it converts potentially harmful molecules to less
toxic compounds and eliminates the problems associated with managing
containers and packaging.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF OZONE; in addition to those advantages
listed above, the use of ozone means the elimination of chemical and
energy consumables that are required by chemical and physical
methods; ozone also offers a reduction in maintenance workloads
(manual cleaning) as it eliminates the biological coating and prevents
incrustations. l
Moreover, the use of ozone involves a considerable saving in water, as
it enables recovery cycles and water oxygenation.
The objective of the process of fruit washing is to reduce or eliminate
pesticides and micro-organisms carried by the fruit on its skin, which are
responsible in part for the loss of fruit in the processes of distribution and sale,
produced by diseases that in some cases can be traced all the way back to the
start of harvesting.

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

OZONE GENERATING MACHINE

APPLIED TO WATER USED TO WASH
BANANA BUNCHES

INSIDE VIEW OF THE MACHINE

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

WATER RECIRCULATION PUMP

OXYGEN GENERATORS

REAR VIEW OF MACHINE SHOWING WATER INTAKES AND OUTLETS

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

Due to the potential harmful effects on health, in recent years there

has been increasing control on the use of disinfectants in the washing stage,
such as hypochlorite solutions, which are used extensively to control
pathogenic micro-organisms in foods.
Given its great strength as a germicide and its spontaneous
decomposition into oxygen, has come to the fore as a potential means to
guarantee microbiological safety and quality of foods.
Therefore, ozones great potential for applications in the treatment of
fruits and vegetables after harvesting has aroused great interest.
Ozonization as an alternative for the treatment and conservation of
foods has been extended to the disinfectant washing, storage and processing
stages. Among the factors that have contributed to the increasing range of
applications of ozone in the agrifood business are the following:
-

Increasing demand for fresh, nourishing and safe foods.

The advantages of ozone over chlorine in the washing process, which
are numerous. Chlorines toxicity due to the by-products it generates
constitute a potential health hazard and are harmful for the environment.

Ozonized water washing can be done using the spray method with
showers or by immersing the products in tanks or washing channels. With
regard to water showers, the water is ozonized first and this requires a greater
concentration of dissolved ozone than that needed in the case of immersion
methods.
Aspects to bear in mind in the application of ozone in water are the
latters pH, as well as the temperature, since the stability of ozone is greater
the lower the pH. It is also more soluble at low temperatures, and so cold water
is always used for washing food products, as well as for washing surfaces,
tools and machinery.
When ozone is used in water for washing banana bunches, we obtain
the following benefits:
-

Elimination of bacteria, moulds, fungi and their spores.

Improved healing of the crown.
Savings in water consumption.
Elimination of biological coatings on conduits and containers.
Reduction or elimination of pesticides and fungicides.
No effluent by-products are generated; run-off water enters aquifers
completely disinfected and produces no unpleasant odours.

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE

Application of ozone to reduce crown rot:

In this application, a very high concentration of ozone is used - 96% - and
it is very important to wash the bunch very well when it comes from the
fields, then move on to cut the hands or bunches, eliminating any traces
of dirt that may persist using a spray gun and then shower the fruit with
ozonized water spray. The crowns are disinfected and this speeds up the
healing process.
Once cut, the fruit should not be cleaned with re-circulated water.
How the equipment functions:
The ozone generator is fed with oxygen by the concentrator (96%), the
reactor produces the O3 and this is sprayed by a mixer-venturi system
that adds it to the water from the plants main water supply in the form of
micro-bubbles; this is re-circulated by means of an electric pump in a
tank fitted to the machinery, within which the concentration is regulated
by redox probe. The machine is kept at a steady pressure of around 2-4
bars for the application.

CARLOS TABARES +34660744286. TENERIFE.CANARY ISLAND.

SPAIN.

FLUICAN, S.L.

CAMINO JUAN F- 38509 GUIMAR - SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE TEL: 648 887
420 922 09 98 14
COMPRESSORS GAS GENERATORS - NITROGEN - OXYGEN - OZONE