What is an ozone vegetable washing system?
Ozone water treatment is a method that leverages the strong oxidizing properties of ozone to sterilize, disinfect, decontaminate, and remove chemical residues from object surfaces and fruits and vegetables.
When air enters an ozone generator, the device uses high-voltage corona discharge to ionize oxygen in the air into oxygen atoms. These oxygen atoms then combine with free oxygen molecules to form ozone. The ozone passes through a Venturi tube, where it merges with atomized water. Through a mixing device, they are fully combined to produce ozone water.
This highly oxidizing ozone water can oxidize and decompose stains on fruits and vegetables, as well as kill bacteria and viruses on food surfaces. It also removes pesticide residues and other chemical contaminants from produce, making food cleaner and safer.
Compared to other detergents and disinfectants, ozone is unstable under normal temperature and pressure. Within 15–30 minutes of use, the oxygen atoms in ozone automatically detach and recombine into oxygen gas, which is released into the air, leaving no harmful by-products. Additionally, its disinfection speed is 600–3000 times faster than that of chlorine. For these reasons, this efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly disinfectant is increasingly favored across various industries.
The Necessity of Ozone Wash Vegetables
As our living standards continue to improve, consumers and regulatory authorities are paying increasing attention to food safety. Nevertheless, driven by their own interests, some manufacturers have led to frequent occurrences of various food safety issues, making it hard for consumers to guard against them.
Current food safety problems primarily include pathogenic hazards and chemical hazards. During the processes of harvesting, transportation, and storage, fruits and vegetables can accumulate large quantities of pathogens, which may cause spoilage. Consuming such spoiled produce allows these pathogens to directly enter the human body, posing health risks. Additionally, chemical hazards—such as pesticide residues, residues of chemical preservatives, and detergent residues—pose significant threats. Without proper cleaning, these toxic substances can cause severe harm to our health.
In fact, the European Union has already banned the use of chlorine-based disinfectants in fruit and vegetable production, while the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has set strict limits on pesticide residue levels in fruits and vegetables.
Ozone, as a non-toxic, residue-free strong oxidizing agent, not only exhibits highly effective bactericidal and disinfectant properties but also effectively removes chemical residues from fruits and vegetables. It has thus begun to be widely adopted by various food processing plants.
Benefits of Washing Fruits and Vegetables with Ozone Water
Highly Effective Disinfection and Sterilization
Unlike common chlorine-based disinfectants, ozone utilizes its strong oxidizing properties to oxidize and decompose the cell membranes of bacteria and microorganisms, causing their death. This bactericidal effect is immediate—experiments have shown that ozone sterilizes 600 to 3000 times faster than chlorine.
At an ozone water concentration of 0.4 mg/L, the sterilization rate reaches up to 99.9%. It is effective against nearly all viruses and bacteria, making it a globally recognized broad-spectrum and highly efficient disinfectant.
Extending the Freshness of Fruits and Vegetables
Spoilage of fruits and vegetables is primarily caused by two factors: ethylene-induced ripening (produced by the produce itself) and bacterial infection. Ozone reacts with ethylene (C₂H₄ + O₃ → POZ) to neutralize it and inhibits the respiration of fruits and vegetables. As mentioned earlier, ozone also rapidly eliminates pathogens on the surface of produce.
Fruits and vegetables washed with ozone water have their freshness extended by twice, leading to its widespread application in transportation and storage.
Reducing Detergent Usage
To ensure cleanliness and safety, we often use detergents to wash fruits and vegetables. Ozone’s strong oxidizing properties grant it natural stain-removing capabilities, achieved by oxidizing and decomposing stains. It effectively removes chemical residues and pathogens from produce. You can fully replace detergents with ozone water.
Removing Pesticides and Other Chemical Residues
Pesticides, detergent residues, preservatives, and other such chemicals are organic substances. Ozone clears these residues by oxidizing and converting their organic components into harmless substances.
When we sent the Oshiner Ozone Water Purifier to testing institutions, results showed that ozone water achieves a 99.9% removal rate of pesticide residues.
Safety
Ozone is formed when an oxygen molecule (O₂) binds with an additional oxygen atom (O), giving it its strong oxidizing properties. This single oxygen atom is unstable under normal temperature and pressure—some is consumed, while the rest detaches from O₂ and recombines with free oxygen atoms to reform O₂.
Since ozone’s action relies entirely on this oxygen atom, it produces no harmful by-products. Today, ozone is widely used in drinking water disinfection, dairy product sterilization, and food production processes worldwide.
Environmental Friendliness
As mentioned, ozone generation produces no harmful substances. The oxygen released ultimately enters water, air, and soil, making it environmentally friendly. Additionally, using ozone water to wash fruits and vegetables significantly reduces reliance on detergents and disinfectants, lowering the environmental harm caused by these chemicals.
Cost Savings
Washing fruits and vegetables with ozone water not only provides healthier and safer produce but also reduces expenses on detergents, water usage for washing, disinfectants, preservatives, and more—saving you a substantial amount of money indirectly.
Methods of Generating Ozone Water
Depending on the different application fields of fruit and vegetable washing, the methods for producing ozone water also vary. These application fields can be categorized into two types: household and industrial use.
Household Ozone Water Processors
Household ozone water processors generate ozone water through two main methods: the bubble stone method and the corona venturi method.
Bubble Stone Method
Ozone is directly infused into water through a bubble stone. The advantage of this method is its low cost, but the downside is that the ozone concentration is neither high nor uniform.
Corona Venturi Method
Water is first atomized, and then mixed with ozone (a mixing device further enhances this process). The advantages of this method include uniform and high ozone concentration, though it is more expensive than the bubble stone method.
Industrial Ozone Water Processors
Industrial ozone water processors primarily generate ozone using the corona method or electrolysis.
Corona Method
Similar to the household corona method, but the equipment is larger in scale. For industrial applications, an oxygen generator is added at the front end to ensure the purity of the ozone water concentration, preventing other secondary oxidation by-products from entering the water. In line with industry requirements in some countries, industrial corona systems must also include an exhaust gas treatment device to handle excess ozone. Since industrial ozone water demands higher concentrations, the escaping ozone also has a relatively high concentration.
Electrolysis Method
This method uses two high-voltage electrodes (upper and lower). When water passes through the electrodes, it is electrolyzed into hydrogen and oxygen, and the oxygen is further electrolyzed into ozone under high voltage. Ozone water produced this way has a pure concentration, reaching up to 250 mg/L. However, it is relatively costly and significantly affected by the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) value of the water. Additionally, the cost and lifespan of the electrodes vary depending on the material used.
Oshiner Ozone Water Processor
Oshiner has been dedicated to the household ozone water field for 22 years. Our products are applicable to laundry, kitchens, bathrooms, and we also offer models specifically designed for commercial use. To date, Oshiner has earned the trust of distributors in over 50 countries worldwide.
Product Introduction
Oshiner’s ozone water systems generate ozone using the corona method. Water is first atomized through a venturi tube, mixed with ozone, and then further processed via a mixing device to produce high-concentration, stable, and controllable ozone water with a concentration ranging from 0.5 to 1 mg/L.
Our independently developed air pre-treatment device has obtained an invention patent. It pre-dries the air, controls temperature, maintains a constant ozone concentration generated by the ozone generator, and extends the lifespan of the ozone generator.
At the same time, we have successfully developed a household-use electrolyzed water ozone generator.
Service Introduction
We provide OEM and ODM services for our products. Based on your procurement needs and marketing objectives, we can tailor different solutions to meet your requirements. With experienced teams in R&D, production, and marketing, we are committed to serving you comprehensively. Choosing Oshiner ensures greater peace of mind and convenience.