The Use of Ozone in Meat Processing Plants

Ozone comes closest to the ideal solution. Ozone has been used in this application for almost a hundred years. For decades, chlorine seemed to be a cheaper alternative. Only about two decades ago, massive research into the byproducts of chlorine alerted the scientific world. It has been concluded that chlorine should ideally be eliminated not only from drinking water purification systems, but also from any application where organic materials are involved, and in the food processing industry in particular.
WHY OZONE:
- Ozone is a tri-atomic oxygen molecule which loses one oxygen atom in the disinfection process to become a normal oxygen molecule. Oxygen is not toxic and it does not form toxic substances. Any excess of ozone breaks down into oxygen.
- Ozone is by far more effective than chlorine as an oxidant and it does this at a concentration 1/10 of that required by chlorine.
- Ozone has a short reaction time and requires a shorter contact time than chemical disinfectants.
- Ozone is a strong Oxidant and will eliminate odors as well as the micro-organisms causing the odors.
- Ozone can be generated onsite from air and electricity, as a result the need for transporting and storing hazardous chemicals is eliminated.
- The correct ozone level can be maintained electronically; there is no need for the manual preparation of washing solutions.
Over the past 20 years AZCO Industries has perfected a system to meet all of the above conditions ? in developing a fully automatic supply of Ozonated water for the meat processing industry. Each system is customized to the specific flow and needs of each specific operation, and consists of the following:

Low and High water level sensors for automatic control of water supply, and for the protection of the pumps. Two stainless steel pumps. One for the ozonation circuit, and one for boosting the tank pressure to 3 atm (45 psi) as needed at the plant. Tank controller with solid state, zero crossing pump drivers and water supply automatic control. Ozone off-gas system.
2. THE OZONE GENERATING SYSTEM comes with:
Ozone generating modules to the full capacity required. Air dryer sized to the capacity required. Controller with the system power distribution, ozone level controller, dry air sensor, ambient air sensor, the tank controller interlock, and more ? for fully automatic operation and the safety of the whole system. The controller allows for the programming of the ozone level, so that the desired dissolved ozone concentration will be maintained automatically ? and independently of any momentary water demand. A warning light will indicate lower than acceptable conditions. The system can be wired to a central computer if desired.
3. PIPE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM:
The pipe distribution system includes manifolds for the ozonized water and allows proper distribution throughout the whole plant. A feedback to the contact tank is implemented to assure consistent levels of dissolved ozone in the distribution pipes when the water demand changes during the day.
The following are examples of the practical results achieved in various AZCO system installations: