Researchers at Tel Aviv University have shown that ozone effectively disinfects surfaces against the virus after short exposure to low concentrations of gases.
Most people recognize ozone as a thin layer of the earth’s atmosphere that protects us from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. However, ozone is also known as a strong oxidizer and disinfectant used in water and wastewater treatment systems.
The research team was led by Dr Inas Zucker of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Tel Aviv University in Israel. I collaborated with Dr Moshe Dessau from Azrieli College of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University in Galilee and Dr Yale Lister from Azrieli College in Jerusalem to study the feasibility of using ozone for inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in confined spaces.
Ozone gas is generated from oxygen gas by electric discharge. Now, for the first time, we have been able to prove its great effectiveness in the fight against the Corona virus, ”explains Dr Zucker.
She told the Brussels Times that she has been treating water with ozone and wastewater for many years now. “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prompted us to change course and demonstrate the potential use of ozone gas purification to fight the epidemic. We contacted Dr Dessau and together we demonstrated this concept in a few weeks of research. “
During their study, the researchers demonstrated the inactivation of various infected surfaces, even in hard-to-reach places. They demonstrated a high level of disinfection within minutes, even on surfaces that were not typically disinfected with liquid hand-applied disinfectants with a statistical success rate of over 90%.
According to Zucker, the process involves inexpensive, readily available technology that can be used to disinfect hospitals, schools, hotels, and even airplanes and entertainment venues. He believes that because the gas can be produced easily and at a relatively low cost, it should be possible to introduce industrial-scale ozone disinfection systems to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Is the method really ready for practical use and marketing?
“The process needs to be improved,” she replied. “We need to understand the effect of the treated surface and environmental conditions and improve the ozone concentration and exposure time accordingly. Then we can take the next step and come up with a design for a mobile system that can be used for indoor disinfection. “
To what extent will using ozone to disinfect closed public places reduce the spread of the virus and facilitate lockdown measures? “An excellent question. According to previous research, SARS-CoV-2 remains active on aerosols and surfaces for several hours to several days, depending on the nature of the surface and environmental conditions. ”
He concludes that “ozone therapy can be an important link in breaking the chain of infection through surfaces and aerosols.” “By the way, the treatment is not limited to SARS-CoV-2, so further testing is worth it. “
Brussels Times
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