Why is an Ozone Decomposition Catalyst Used in Water Treatment?

As we all know, ozone is a highly oxidizing chemical, often called the "king of disinfection." Its strong oxidizing properties allow it to effectively kill bacteria and degrade organic pollutants. However, if any ozone remains after ozone disinfection, it can pose unnecessary risks to water quality. How can we address this issue? The application of ozone decomposition catalysts precisely addresses this issue. They convert residual ozone into harmless oxygen, playing a crucial role in settings like hospitals and swimming pools.
Ozone's primary function in water treatment is disinfection and the decomposition of pollutants. However, residual ozone can pose an ecological risk. Its strong oxidizing properties can corrode equipment and potentially combine with organic matter in the water to form new harmful substances. Therefore, ozone decomposition catalysts can be used to decompose residual ozone after disinfection, thus preventing secondary pollution.
Ozone decomposition catalysts work by rapidly decomposing ozone molecules into oxygen at room temperature, increasing their decomposition rate. This allows ozone, which would normally take hours to dissipate, to dissipate in minutes, resulting in extremely high efficiency.
For example, in hospital wastewater treatment, where high levels of pathogens, bacteria, and drug residues are common, ozone is essential for high-intensity disinfection. However, after disinfection is complete, excessive ozone can kill beneficial microorganisms in subsequent stages of the wastewater treatment system, compromising purification effectiveness. Residual ozone, if discharged indiscriminately, can harm aquatic life and damage the water ecosystem.
Ozone decomposition catalysts are typically installed in the outlet pipe of ozone disinfection tanks in hospital wastewater treatment. When wastewater containing residual ozone flows through the catalyst, ozone molecules rapidly decompose into oxygen on the catalyst surface, preserving ozone's pathogen-killing effect while minimizing harm to subsequent treatment processes and natural water bodies.
For swimming pool disinfection, ozone is more effective than chlorine and produces no irritating odor. However, it can also leave residual ozone. Exceeding acceptable concentrations in swimming pools can irritate eyes and respiratory tracts, leading to dry skin and coughing. It can also oxidize the pool walls, shortening the lifespan of certain materials and increasing maintenance costs. In swimming pool water treatment, ozone-disinfected pool water is first filtered to remove impurities before passing through a catalyst, where any remaining ozone is broken down into oxygen. The treated water is no longer irritating, but its oxygen content is increased, resulting in clearer water and reduced corrosion to pipes and filters.
Although inconspicuous, ozone decomposition catalysts preserve ozone's disinfecting benefits and make them more effective in water treatment, while eliminating residual hazards and becoming an invisible guardian of water quality.

author: Hazel
date: 2025-07-30