How to Build Ozonators

The same radiation used in tanning beds can be harnessed to produce homemade ozone.

Ozone (chemical formula: O3) is an unstable molecule of oxygen valued for its powerful antimicrobial properties. One way ozone is formed is via high-energy ultraviolet light imparting enough energy to conventional atmospheric oxygen (O2) to allow it to take on the more energetically demanding ozone configuration. For small amounts of ozone --- like for a science fair project, or a proof-of-concept for the technically minded --- this can be achieved using ultraviolet sanitizers available at gadget stores and online.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizers (as many as your budget allows)
• Silver paint with flecks of real silver
• Cylindrical trash can
• Drill
• Paintbrush
• Screwdriver
• Adhesive putty
• Power strip

1. Remove the protective outer casings from your UV sanitizers using a screwdriver. You want the bulb responsible for producing the UV light to be as exposed as possible.

2. Coat the inside of the cylindrical trash can with silver paint. Silver is an excellent reflector of UV light, and it will help your ozonator harvest UV light for ozone production as efficiently as possible.

3. Arrange the unshielded UV sanitizers in a circle, with its outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the trashcan. Orient them such that their bulbs are pointing inwards and slightly up.

4. Turn all UV sanitizers on, but plug them into an inactive power strip. Plug the power strip into an outlet.

5. Place the trash can upside-down over the ring of UV sanitizers. Seal the bottom with adhesive putty so that no gas can escape.

6. Drill a small hole in the top of the trash can.

7. Turn all UV sanitizers on simultaneously by activating the power strip. This will create a chamber of concentrated UV light being reflected back and forth by the silver paint. Ozone will now be produced from the small hole in the top of the trash can.

Tips & Warnings

• Ultraviolet light can be harmful to the human eye. Never look at the bulbs of your UV sanitizers while they are activated.

• Make sure your sanitizers are unplugged before you begin to disassemble them. Failure to do so could lead to potentially dangerous electric shock.

References

• Bigclive.com: Make Some Ozone
• Argonne National Laboratory: Making Ozone