To further facilitate ozone-related applied research, the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology of PolyU is the forerunner in ozone research and application. Led by Dr. Gilbert Y.S. Chan and his team, applied research efforts are focused toward studying the relationship of ozone and plant growth, aquaculture, wastewater treatment, food disinfection, pesticide degradation, etc. The research team has come up with areas of ozone applications highlighted as follows:
Aquaculture: Since ozone rapidly reacts to organic materials without generating toxic residues, it can produce more oxygen beneficial to the aquacultural systems. Ozone can be used to disinfect harmful pathogens and improve water quality by coagulating dispersed particles. More development efforts will be directed to study ozone utilization in disease control and fish pathogen inhibition.
Food Industry: With the ability to inactivate bacteria and viruses, ozone is a good antimicrobial agent for food sanitation, detoxification and deodorization. It can be widely applied in food preservation, equipment sterilization and extension of foods' shelf life.
Vegetable Agriculture: Ozone can help to grow vegetables of higher nutrient value. It can boost up the antioxidant content of plant cell in vegetables, and reduce free radicals that are harmful to human health. Our research indicates that application of ozone on plant cultivation can promote the antioxidant level to protect animal cells against cancers and microbes.
Cleaning and Purification: Ozonated water can disinfect major viruses such as E.Coli, Cholera, Salmonella, Listeria and Hepatitis. Ozone gas is a good repellent for pests and rodents. As such, ozone is widely used in water and air purification against viruses, bacteria, pollutants and gas emissions.
Equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities and a dedicated ozone fumigation chamber, we are able to offer laboratory testing services for ozone studies (such as ozonated water and ozone gas) and their related applications. In recent years, the team has also provided various advisory services to industries, government laboratories and agencies in a range of functional ozone study and applications in environmental management.
To learn more on how ozone technology can be applied to your business, you are welcome to contact Miss Kit Chan at tel: (852) 3400-2713 for any collaboration or consultancy opportunity.
