Using ozone for commercial odour control: explained
Ozone is a form of oxygen made of three oxygen atoms, written O3. Our Garbage Doctor® and Odour Doctor® machines make ozone from a small portion of the air's oxygen and pipe the ozone to where the odour starts. There, the ozone breaks the odour down and reverts to ordinary oxygen.
What is ozone?
The oxygen we breathe is two oxygen atoms joined together, written O2. Ozone has three, written O3, which is why ozone is also called trioxygen or triatomic oxygen.
How ozone neutralises an odour, step by step
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Air drawn into the machine
The machine draws in air from the room, through a carbon filter. Each oxygen molecule in that air is a pair of oxygen atoms, O2.
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UV light makes ozone inside the machine
In the machine's purifying chamber, ultraviolet light splits some of the oxygen molecules into single oxygen atoms. Each single atom joins an oxygen molecule. The new molecule has three oxygen atoms: ozone, O3. Ozone's third atom is shown in blue.
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Through the conduit to the bins
The ozone is then pushed through PVC conduit along the wall, just above the bins. The ozone falls from the conduit over each bin, where the odour starts.
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Ozone meets an odour molecule
At the bins, the ozone meets the odour molecules. Ozone's third atom is loosely held, so ozone reacts readily with the odour molecule.
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The odour molecule breaks down
The third atom oxidises the odour molecule, and the odour molecule breaks down.
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Oxygen again, and a neutral smell
The ozone reverts to ordinary oxygen. What's left is a clean, neutral smell: the odour is broken down, rather than covered by a fragrance.
A concept drawing. The molecules are simplified and drawn far larger than life, and the machine's inside is drawn to show where ozone forms, not as the equipment is built.
How do our machines make ozone?
Each Garbage Doctor and Odour Doctor ozone machine has a Si-Zone® generator inside, which makes ozone with ultraviolet light. That's why this kind of machine is called a UV ozone generator.
The ozone output is adjustable. Our technicians set each machine for the space and its odour sources at installation.
Follow the air through a Garbage Doctor®
Click on a part of the machine to see what happens to the air there.
OdourAirOzone
The room's air
The machine draws in air from the room. The ozone is made from a small portion of that air's oxygen.
Activated carbon filter
Air drawn into the machine passes first through the activated carbon filter.
Ozone and germicidal light
In the chamber, the Si-Zone generator's lamps turn some of the air's oxygen into ozone with ultraviolet light. The same lamps give germicidal UV-C light, which treats the air.
Ozone to the odour
PVC conduit carries the ozone to the targeted odour source, here the bins. There, the ozone breaks the odour down and reverts to ordinary oxygen.
A concept drawing.
Where is the ozone used?
The ozone is pushed through PVC conduit or a hose to targeted areas, such as over the bins, into the compactor or into the bin under the garbage chute. In a loading dock, the conduit runs over the compactor and the bins. At a grease trap, the ozone is dispersed into the air just above the trap.
On a Garbage Doctor Duo, the ozone typically treats the bins, where the odour starts, and the Duo sends a scented vapour up the garbage chute.
Send us your building's details for a quote
Tell us about your building. You're welcome to add photos or a short video of the bin room, loading dock or lobby: they help us recommend the right system before we quote.
- Tell us about your building
- Add photos or a video of the area
- We recommend a system and send a quote
Why carbon filtration and UV-C sit alongside
Ozone works alongside carbon filtration and germicidal UV-C in each machine. Air drawn into the machine passes first through an activated carbon filter, which removes dust, airborne chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and absorbs some odours.
In the same chamber, the Si-Zone generator's lamps also give germicidal UV-C light, which helps control bacteria, viruses, mould and fungal spores in the air passing through the machine.
What ozone isn't for
Ozone is used for deodorising for commercial odour control applications: bin rooms, garbage chutes, compactors, loading docks and grease traps. In these spaces it's not possible to treat odours with other methods such as filtration. Ozone typically isn't suitable for use in rooms where people spend their day, such as offices and lobbies. For a lobby, we recommend a Scent Doctor® system.
While ozone can treat the odour close to the source, it doesn't remove the cause of an odour. A bin or chute that's never cleaned, or a grease trap overdue for a pump-out, keeps making odour. We recommend regular cleaning alongside the machine.
Questions about ozone
Is activated oxygen the same as ozone?
Yes. Activated oxygen is another name for ozone (O3), used by some suppliers. Activated oxygen and ozone are the same thing, so everything on this page applies to both, safety included.
What is triatomic oxygen (trioxygen, O3)?
Triatomic oxygen is ozone. Triatomic means three atoms: ozone is oxygen with three atoms instead of the usual two. Trioxygen and O3 are other names for ozone, which our machines make.
Is "super oxygen" the same thing?
Yes. "Super oxygen" is a sales name for ozone. Whatever the name, ozone is O3, and the facts and the safety advice on this page are the same.
Is ozone safe in a bin room?
Yes, when the machine is sized and set for the room. Our technicians set each machine's output for the room and its odour sources, so the ozone level in the room stays below the workplace exposure standard for ozone of 0.1 parts per million in occupied areas. The ozone goes to the bins and the compactor, and reverts to oxygen as the ozone neutralises the odour.
You can think of using ozone in a commercial odour control application the same way you would use chlorine in a swimming pool. At the correct dosages it is exceptionally beneficial, but it's also important to ensure the dosage is correct for purpose.
How much ozone do the machines put out?
Each model has its own output, and each machine's output is adjustable: The Garbage Doctor Ozone HD has the highest output, for large spaces or several odour sources. Our technicians set the output at installation, and changes can easily be made, if required. We never charge for ozone adjustments, so if you feel the deodorising output could benefit from being changed, simply let us know.
Ask us about ozone for your site
Send us photos or videos of the space, and we'll recommend where the ozone should go. We're also available by video call.