Efficiency of Ozonation Disinfection in a Domestic Wastewater Treatment for Removing Existing Infectious Bacteria and Viruses and a Comparison with Chlorine Disinfection

In this study disinfection of a domestic wastewater treatment plant was experimented in order to remove the infectious bacteria and viruses. For this purpose, ozone as a disinfectant was used whereas this wastewater used to be disinfected by the use of chlorine. Bacteria are microscopically small, single-cell creatures having a primitive structure. The bacteria body is sealed by a relatively solid-cell membrane. By ozonation, ozone interfered with the metabolism of bacterium-cells, most likely through inhibiting and blocking the operation of the enzymatic control system. A sufficient amount of ozone was used to break through the cell membrane, and this led to the destruction of the bacteria. Viruses are also small, independent particles, built of crystals and macromolecules, unlike bacteria they multiply only within the host cell. They transform protein of the host cell into proteins of their own. Ozone destroyed viruses by diffusing through the protein coat into the nucleic acid core, resulting in damage of the viral RNA (ribonucleic acid). Besides, at higher concentrations, ozone destroyed the exterior protein shell by oxidation so DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA structures of the microorganism were affected. The results of the ozonation disinfection in comparison with the chlorine disinfection revealed a magnificent improvement in removal of the existing bacteria and viruses in the studied wastewater.