I understand that ozone is universally known as the most powerful oxidant for disinfecting water. Can you please explain how ozone kills bacteria?
Ozone is the most powerful water disinfection treatment available today. It is also the fastest growing water disinfection technology globally. To date there is no known bacteria, pathogen, cyst or virus that ozone is unable to kill. Most recently it has been discovered to effectively destroy the Covid-19 virus.
Ozone typically kills bacteria within 1-10 seconds of contact. The process is simple, chemical free and environmentally friendly.
Bacteria and other organisms have a cell wall which enables it to maintain its shape, and is vital to its survival. Once ozone molecules come into contact with the cell wall an oxidative burst occurs which results in a tiny perforation. This newly created hole damages the wall and the cell starts to lose its shape. The ozone molecules continue to puncture the cell wall creating thousands of holes. After only a few seconds of contact the cell wall can longer maintain its shape and the cell dies.