Ozone History | Ozone in the Troposphere | Ozone in the Stratosphere | History Effects Ozone | Ozone’s Other Uses
Ozone is a very potent oxidizing agent, which can turn an olefin into a ketone, a carboxylic acid or an aldehyde. It is also used as a commercial bleaching agent, effective on organic compounds. Ozone is also put in drinking water so it can act as a germicide and sterilize the water. While in the water it can also take away unfavorable tastes and smells. Ozone is used in whiskey distilleries as a way to destroy the empyreumatic taste of whiskey. It is useful as a decomposition agent. It can decompose dangerous organic and inorganic chemical wastes such as phenols, pesticides, detergents, and cyanides. Ozone can also help precipitate out unwanted heavy metal ions and hydroxides, like iron and manganese. With ozone, one can control not only the formation of slime, but also the odor in sewage treatment and in manufacturing industries.