Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-10-27
OZONE IN THE ARTS.
Comm erciai Properties of n Rem markable
Atmospheric Constituent.

Commercial Properties of n Rem a rk able
Atmospheric Constituent.
Ozone was first discovered by Van
Marum a century or more ago, but it
was first investigated and brought
prominently to the notice of medical
and scientific men by Schonbein, of
Germany, in 1S45. From that date
TO the present it has been a subject
of active study by scientists, saiita
rians and medical men generally
Ozone seems to exist in mirutt
quantity in the atmosphere, and how
it is formed there and the conditions
of its existence have long been mat
ters of dispute. Schonbein, Andrews
in England and Houzean in France
were the earlier and important ex
ponents of the views that ozone is q
normal constituent of the atnlos
phere. In a valuable monograph
published in Germany in 1879 Pro
fessor Engler comes to the same con
clusion.
On the other hand, the Russian
chemist Schoene, after a long series
Of observations and laboratory ex
periments, concludes that the effect.
ascribed to ozone in the air are due
not TO that substance, but to another
strong oxidizing agent-hydrogeD
peroxide. This view is shared by
others of the present time, while
several careful experimenters seem
to deny the presence of either sub
stance.
Ozone is best made by the passage
of electricity through oxygen, and
many scientists have been working
upon apparatus devised for the prac-
tical preparation of it in quantity.
By the slow combustion of phos
phorus in moist air ozone is also
formed, but only in limited amount.
With reference to the commercial
utilization of ozone, Professor Fahrig
says: "Ozone is the strongest oxidiz-
ing agent known, and should be most
useful, particularly in bleaching pro
cesses. At present chloride of lime
is used extensively as bleacher.
Chlorine, however, in a pure and dry
state has no bleaching properties.
But from its great affinity for hydro
gen, forming oxygen and hydro
chloric acid, chlorine becomes the
strongest bleaching agent. 1t is the
oxygen set free in the chlorine in
combination with the water which
performs the bleaching. Now, ozone
is nothing but oxygen in condensed
state. Oxygen converted into 1, 2
OF per cent. ozone is a powerful
bleacher. 1t is a mistaken idea that
ozone can be produced at any per
cent. of strength; 9 or per cent. of
ozone is about the strongest one
would care to handle, and per
cent. of ozone is strong enough for
almost any commercial oxidation.
Ozone seems designed as natures
own oxidizing agent. BY employing
ozone instead of chlorine we substi-
tute a harmless substance for dead
" poison. 1t would be step for
ward did our spice merchants adopt
ozone for bleaching ginger, pepper
and all other foodstuffs. 1t could be
used also for treating drinking
waters. Ozone alone can kill the
bacteria in water. Twenty grains of
ozone per 1000 gallons of water
gives good result. Here we have
at once large field for the use of
ozone.
"Ozone could be used for bleach
ing paper, especially the better
grades; also for treating sewage; for
sugar in sugar refining;
for preserving meat, fish, milk, etc.
for aging alcohol in general, and
whisky in particular Chicago
Electrician.