Electrolytic Ozone, Inc. Boron-Doped Diamond Cell Enables Compact Sanitizing Products

BOSTON, May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolytic Ozone, Inc. (www.eoi-oxygen.com) has developed an exclusive solid boron-doped synthetic diamond ozone production technology enabling a new class of compact applications that have previously been impractical.  The characteristics of the solid synthetic diamond electrode at the heart of the EOI Active Diamond Electrolytic Process Technology (ADEPT™) enables greater reliability, greater sanitizing power in a more compact cell, and enhanced user safety, as compared to coated synthetic diamond electrodes.  In addition, the solid synthetic diamond technology doesn't suffer the safety and stability issues known to plague lead oxide electrodes, and are found to be more efficient than platinum coated electrodes.

The free standing solid boron-doped synthetic diamond electrodes improve the ozone cell life and ozone cell reliability.  A higher current density is possible for higher efficiency ozone production, and more compact ozone cell.  Smaller aperture spacing means greater dissolution of ozone and less off gassing, which enhances user safety and sanitizing power.  Solid diamond electrodes don't suffer from 'embrittlement' or de-plating. The use of symmetric electrodes means more continuous ozone production, even in hard water.

"Ozone technology has been around for more than 100 years. It's proven. And thanks to our new electrolytic diamond technology, our customers and partners envision new uses for the sanitizing power of ozone in very compact applications. In these applications, purity and power efficiency are at a premium and off gassing levels must be minimized," said Wayne Lieberman, Electrolytic Ozone, Inc. CEO.

The solid diamond electrodes can be driven at a higher current density which allows much greater efficiency at producing ozone and therefore higher concentration and greater sanitizing power.  Higher current density means that the EOI cells that use solid electrodes are approximately 2-4 times smaller than those that use coated electrodes.

Extremely small aperture spacing has not been available with coated electrodes.  As a result, solid diamond electrodes offer a more complete dissolution of the ozone and significantly lower off-gassing, enhancing user safety.  This is especially important in applications like the new sanitizing spray bottle EOI announced this week.

In addition, solid diamond electrodes are not susceptible to hydrogen 'embrittlement' of the metal substrate.  This issue can plague coated electrodes when they are used as a cathode.  De-lamination, where the coatings break off, can negatively impact reliability and effectiveness of coated electrodes.

Symmetric electrode construction enables a patent-pending reverse polarity scheme that helps to reduce scale.  "Our research shows having two solid diamond electrodes is the best possible arrangement to control scale because there can be continuous production of ozone regardless of the polarity.  Together these techniques mean that depending on the system design, the electrolytic cell is more reliable even without as much pre-filtration or softening of harder, scale-forming water," said Hossein Zarrin, EOI Chief Technology Officer.

EOI's solid diamond technology doesn't suffer the safety and stability issues that can plague lead oxide electrodes.  Lead oxide electrodes can require complex systems, may experience low current efficiencies, and may pose a safety risk, especially in applications where the purified water is eventually consumed.  Other metals used to coat electrodes, such as platinum, have been found to be less efficient than solid diamond, and may require larger electrodes or increased power requirements.

EOI's exclusive solid boron-doped synthetic diamond ozone production technology can be seen in two new products announced this week.  A new sanitizing spray bottle (SB100-Industrial) replaces many chemical sanitizers in restaurants and commercial kitchens.  The Franke Ice Sanitation Technology for commercial ice machines attaches to the water inlet line and keeps the ice bin and surrounding areas free from many common pathogens.

About Electrolytic Ozone, Inc.

Electrolytic Ozone, Inc. (www.eoi-oxygen.com) was founded in 2009 to commercialize a new miniaturized in-water from-water ozone-generation technology that enables compact ozone applications that were previously impossible or impractical.  Since that time, with the backing of Element Six Ventures, EOI has brought synthetic diamond-based electrolytic ozone cells, subsystems, and appliances to water disinfection and surface sanitizing markets.  EOI methods harness the benefits of ozone as an alternative to heat and chemical disinfectants, providing miniaturized ozone technology to enable next generation applications where compactness, reliability, and safety from excessive ozone out-gassing are critical.

SOURCE Electrolytic Ozone, Inc.