Bubbling vs Electrolytic: Understanding How Your Ozonated Water is Made
Ozonated water is gaining popularity for its incredible versatility – from powerful natural disinfection for surfaces to supporting oral health and even internal wellness when consumed. But did you know there are fundamentally different ways to create this beneficial water?
At Natural Ozone, we offer products utilising both methods, and understanding the science behind them can help you choose the right tools for your needs. Let's dive into the differences between producing ozonated water by bubbling ozone gas and using the electrolytic method.
Method 1: Bubbling Ozone Gas into Water
This is often considered the traditional way to ozonate water, especially for larger volumes or higher concentrations as shown in this video.
How it Works: An external ozone generator for example the OZONODE, the Multipurpose Unit or the Spa-zonator produces ozone gas (O3) from oxygen. This gas is then delivered via a silicone tube to a diffuser stone placed at the bottom of a container of water. As the ozone gas bubbles up through the water, a portion of it dissolves, creating ozonated water.
Pros:
-
Higher Concentration Potential: With a powerful external generator, you can achieve very high concentrations of dissolved ozone in water, suitable for demanding applications like sterilising medical equipment or large-scale water purification.
-
Versatility: The ozone generator itself can often be used for other applications, such as ozonating air for odour removal or directly treating specific areas.
-
Scalability: Easier to use for larger volumes of water, for example the Spa-zonator is designed to keep your spa sparkling clean.
Cons:
-
Requires External Generator: You need a separate ozone generator unit, an air pump, and tubing, making the setup potentially larger and less portable.
-
Off-Gassing: Unless contained in a sealed environment, excess ozone gas not absorbed by the water can off-gas into the surrounding air, requiring good ventilation or careful use.
-
Setup Complexity: Can be slightly more involved than direct methods.
Best For: This method is ideal for applications requiring high concentrations of ozonated water, treating larger volumes (like baths, foot soaks, or water tanks), or when you also need ozone gas for other purposes. It is also the most common method used for making ozonated water for drinking.
Method 2: The Electrolytic Method
This innovative method is becoming increasingly popular for its convenience, especially in compact, consumer-friendly devices.
How it Works: Instead of producing ozone gas externally, electrolytic ozonators generate ozone directly within the water. This is achieved using specialised electrodes immersed in the water. When electricity passes through these electrodes, it splits water molecules (H2O) into their constituent parts, including nascent oxygen atoms that immediately combine to form dissolved ozone (O3) and hydrogen gas (H2). The key is that the ozone is generated in situ (in place) within the water itself.
Pros:
-
Compact & Convenient: Devices like our Floss 'N Gloss Ozone Oral Irrigator or Microbe Mister utilise this method, making them highly portable, sleek, and easy to use.
-
No External Gas Release: Since ozone is produced directly in the water, there's generally no excess ozone gas escaping into the air, making it safer for direct personal use and in enclosed spaces.
-
Pure Ozonated Water: The process often yields very pure ozonated water as it doesn't rely on air quality to produce the ozone gas.
-
Integrated Solutions: Perfect for specific applications where the ozonator is built directly into the device (e.g., an oral irrigator that makes ozonated water as you use it).
Cons:
-
Lower Concentration (Generally): While effective for their intended purposes, electrolytic devices typically produce lower concentrations of ozone compared to high-output gas bubbling systems.
-
Volume Limitations: Best suited for smaller volumes of water (eg the reservoir of an oral irrigator or a spray bottle).
Best For: This method is perfect for personal hygiene products, direct drinking water devices, small-scale surface disinfection sprays, and other applications where portability, convenience, and direct water treatment are key.
Which Method is Right for You?
The "best" method truly depends on your specific needs:
-
For broad household disinfection, air purification of small spaces such as a car, cupboards or fridges, and drinking ozonated water: A Multipurpose Unit with a bubbling system is likely your best choice.
-
For home ozone therapy protocols and high quality ozonated water: choose a home ozone therapy bundle such as the Wellness Warrior with the Ozonode.
-
For daily oral hygiene, personal disinfection on-the-go, or simple, direct ozonated drinking water: An electrolytic device like our Floss 'N Gloss or Microbe Mister offers unparalleled convenience and effectiveness.
At Natural Ozone, we're dedicated to bringing you the power of ozone through cutting-edge technology. Explore our range of ozone generators and innovative electrolytic devices to find the perfect solution for your clean, green, and healthy lifestyle!