Novel method of dosing liquids with pressurized ozone

Abstract

Methods of treating and sanitizing foods and other targeted objects, including the use of ozone and a method for providing a liquid dosed with pressurized ozone. The ozonated liquid of the invention is particularly useful for treating food products, food storage, and food transportation devices as well as treating water, or other target objects. Included is a method or pressurizing an ozone-containing stream without destroying the ozone or contaminating the stream with oil or water. The pressurized ozone-containing stream is then used to dose a liquid, which in turn is used to sanitize or treat a target object.

1 . A method of pressurizing ozone comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an ozone source and an ozone pressurization system;    b) feeding an ozone-containing gas from said ozone source to said ozone pressurization system to establish a first pressure;    c) pressurizing said ozone pressurization system to a second pressure by feeding a pressurization gas to said ozone pressurization system to form a pressurized ozone-containing gas; and    d) withdrawing said pressurized ozone-containing gas from said ozone pressurization system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pressurized ozone-containing stream is substantially absent oil and water.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said ozone pressurization system comprises a pressurization vessel;    b) said pressurization gas is fed into the lower portion of said pressurization vessel; and    c) said pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from the upper portion of said pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said ozone pressurization system comprises a plurality of pressurization vessels comprising a first pressurization vessel and a last pressurization vessel;    b) said plurality of pressurization vessels are fluidly connected in series; and    c) wherein said pressurizing gas is fed exclusively to said first pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said pressurizing step further comprises the steps of: 
 a) withdrawing a pressurized gas mixture from said first pressurization vessel;    b) feeding said pressurized gas mixture to said last pressurization vessel, wherein pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 a) said pressurization gas is fed into a lower portion of said first pressurization vessel;    b) said pressurized gas mixture is withdrawn from an upper portion of said first pressurization vessel;    c) said pressurized gas mixture is fed into a lower portion of said last pressurization vessel; and    d) said pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from an upper portion of said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said pressurizing step further comprises the steps of: 
 a) withdrawing a pressurized gas mixture from said first pressurization vessel;    b) feeding said pressurized gas mixture to a successive pressurization vessel; and    c) transferring said pressurized gas mixture from said successive pressurization vessel to said last pressurization vessel, wherein pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 a) said pressurization gas is fed into a lower portion of said first pressurization vessel to form a pressurized gas mixture;    b) said pressurized gas mixture is withdrawn from an upper portion of said first pressurization vessel;    c) said pressurized gas mixture is fed into a lower portion of said successive pressurization vessel;    d) said pressurized gas is withdrawn from an upper portion of said successive pressurization vessel; and    e) said pressurized gas mixture is transferred into a lower portion of said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pressurization gas is a dry gas.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said dry gas is CO 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said second pressure is greater than about 150 psig.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first pressure is less than about 50 psig.  
   
   
       13 . A method of supplying an ozonated liquid comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an ozone source and an ozone pressurization system;    b) feeding an ozone-containing gas from said ozone source to said ozone pressurization system to establish a first pressure;    c) pressurizing said ozone pressurization system by feeding a pressurization gas into said ozone pressurization system, wherein said pressurizing gas raises the pressure of said ozone-containing gas to a second pressure to form a pressurized ozone-containing gas;    d) providing a liquefied dry gas;    e) transferring said liquefied dry gas to an expansion vessel;    f) sparging said pressurized ozone-containing gas through said liquefied dry gas in said expansion tank to form an ozonated liquefied dry gas; and    g) withdrawing said ozonated liquefied dry gas from said expansion vessel.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of withdrawing a vent gas from said expansion tank and recycling said vent gas to a liquefied dry gas storage vessel.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said sparging occurs substantially continuously.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pressurizing step further comprises the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of pressurization vessels fluidly connected in series in said pressurization system;    b) feeding said pressurizing gas exclusively to a first pressurization vessel in said pressurization system;    c) withdrawing a pressurized gas mixture from said first pressurization vessel;    d) feeding said pressurized gas mixture to said last pressurization vessel, wherein pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pressurized ozone-containing gas is substantially absent water and oil.  
   
   
       18 . A device for supplying a pressurized ozone-containing gas comprising: 
 a) an ozone pressurization system comprising: 
 i) a first pressurization vessel;  
 ii) a last pressurization vessel;  
 iii) a pressurization inlet located on a lower portion of said first pressurization vessel;  
 iv) a means of fluidly connecting the upper portion of said first pressurization vessel to a lower portion of said last pressurization vessel; and  
 v) a pressurized ozone outlet located on an upper portion of said last pressurization vessel;  
   b) an ozone-containing feedstream in fluid communication with said first pressurization vessel;    c) a pressurization gas feedstream in fluid communication with said pressurization inlet; and    d) a pressurized ozone-containing stream in fluid communication with said pressurized ozone outlet.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a successive pressurization vessel, wherein: 
 a) an upper portion of said first pressurization vessel is fluidly connected to a lower portion of said successive pressurization vessel; and    b) an upper portion of said successive pressurization vessel is fluidly connected to a lower portion of said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said successive pressurization vessel comprises at least two further successive pressurization vessels fluidly connected in series.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said pressurization gas feedstream comprises a dry gas.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said dry gas is CO 2 .  
   
   
       23 . A method of supplying an ozonated liquid comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an ozone source and an ozone pressurization system;    b) feeding an ozone-containing gas from said ozone source to said ozone pressurization system to establish a first pressure;    c) pressurizing said ozone pressurization system by feeding a pressurization gas into said ozone pressurization system, wherein said pressurizing gas raises the pressure of said ozone-containing gas to a second pressure to form a pressurized ozone-containing gas;    d) providing a liquid in a pressure vessel;    e) sparging said pressurized ozone-containing gas through said liquid in said pressure vessel to form an ozonated liquid; and    g) withdrawing said ozonated liquid from said pressure vessel.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a pressure in said pressure vessel is greater than about 150 psig during said sparging step.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a pressure in said pressure vessel is greater than about 200 psig during said sparging step.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a pressure in said pressure vessel is greater than about 300 psig during said sparging step.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said sparging occurs substantially continuously.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said pressurizing step further comprises the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of pressurization vessels fluidly connected in series in said pressurization system;    b) feeding said pressurizing gas exclusively to a first pressurization vessel in said pressurization system;    c) withdrawing a pressurized gas mixture from said first pressurization vessel; and    d) feeding said pressurized gas mixture to said last pressurization vessel, wherein pressurized ozone-containing gas is withdrawn from said last pressurization vessel.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said pressurized ozone-containing gas is substantially absent water and oil.