Ozone in the laundry industry - Practical experiences in the United Kingdom

Since the early 1990s, the use of ozone in many commercial and industrial laundering applications has been evolving rapidly. Ozone allows washing to be conducted using cold water, thereby saving considerable heat energy and water consumption. Additionally, ozone enhances the wash process, resulting in a significant reduction in detergent dosage and number of rinses, thus saving water. Ozone/cold water cycles are gentler to fabrics, thus extending linen life. Finally, ozone/cold water laundering is beneficial for effluents, resulting in reductions in COD (chemical oxygen demand). Microorganisms are destroyed effectively in ozone-wash waters, and washing and drying cycles are shorter, thus saving labor. In this paper, the authors describe some specific case studies at commercial laundering installations in the UK, whereby the users of ozone have reaped major benefits, including enhanced microorganism kills/inactivation and significant cost savings.