An Improved Process of and Apparatus for the Sterilisation of Liquids by Means of Ozone.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1898-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of and Apparatus for the Sterilisation of
Liquids by Means of Ozone.
I, MARIUS OTTO, of 18, Avenue de Neuilly, Neuilly-sur-Seine, in the Republic of
France, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
I have already demonstrated (see the Report of the Academy of Sciences 1896
Vol. 123 p. 1005) that ozone reacts with great energy upon the microbes and
organic substances contained in water, and generally speaking in all liquids,
destroying and burning them with the production of light. These phenomena take
place without the liberation of any appreciable quantity of gas. Some men of
science have given to the light so produced, which I have studied and the causes
of which I have pointed out, the name of "cold light."
I have turned to account the oxidising and bactericide properties of ozone for the
sterilisation of liquids, and in order. that this sterilisation may be thoroughly
efficacious and permanent, it has occurred to me to sterilise, contrarily to what
has hitherto been done, not only the liquid itself, but also the vessel intended for its
reception, these two operations taking place simultaneously. Hitherto the sterilised
liquid became rapidly contaminated in contact with germs remaining upon the
walls of the vessel in which it was placed.
Instead of filling the vessels with previously sterilised liquid, I effect the
sterilisation in the vessel itself, by causing a current of ozone to pass into the
previously filled vessel. I likewise attain the same result by introducing into
the vessel a mixture of ozone and of the liquid to be preserved in the form of an
emulsion in which the ozone preserves, at the moment of entering the vessel, all
its bactericide properties, in such a manner as to destroy, upon its admission, the
germs retained by the walls.
This novel process of sterilisation by means of ozone and the apparatus whereby
I am enabled to apply the same industrially, forms the subject of this invention.
The apparatus as a whole is represented in the accompanying drawing, in
which:-
. Figure 1 is an elevation of such apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section through the same.
Figure 3 is a section through the apparatus by means of which, utilising the
second of the methods of sterilisation above referred to, I introduce into the vessel
intended to contain the liquid, an ozonated emulsion, and
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the socket which is employed in the operation
of corking the vessel.
Each apparatus comprises essentially a glazed chamber having movable panels,
and which is closed upon the right hand by means of doors similar to those
described in Specification 15152 A.D. 1898 and which open and close automatically
in order to allow empty bottles V and filled bottles 2 to pass, these bottles being
conveyed by two endless sheets & actuated by means of transmission gear T and

page_text: bevel wheels G¹ G². The appliances for filling and corking the bottles consist
respectively of a cast metal base fixed upon the bottom of the chamber; this base
carries a support S on a stem which is operated by means of a pedal P, which
actuates an engaging lever d serving to hold the said stem at the desired height.
Upon this support is fixed the bottle which bears against a part B of bronze
(Figure 4) so arranged as to serve both for the introduction of the water charged
with ozone and for the corking operation. A lever L (Figures 1 and 2) actuates
on the one hand the cocks E' and 01 by means of the arms a for the admission of
water and ozone, and on the other hand the rod N by means of two arms M arranged
fork fashion.
Upon the left hand of each apparatus is provided an opening A, A, A furnished
with a linen sleeve for attachment upon the arm of the operator.
The water is charged with ozone in a special apparatus (Figure 3) and enters
the bottles in the form of a gaseous emulsion.
This apparatus t¹ which I term “ the triplet," and of which Figure 3 is a detail
view, is formed by the assemblage of three glass nozzles in a single socket. It acts
in the manner of an injector, the liquid entering through the vertical pipe sucks
in the current of ozone supplied through the horizontal pipe, and the emulsion
takes place upon leaving the cones. This apparatus may be replaced either by a
single nozzle, or by a mechanical agitator of any suitable kind. In any event, the
emulsion enters the bottle charged greatly in excess with ozone, which produces not
only the sterilisation of the water, but also of the internal walls of the bottle itself.
The phenomenon is very clear, and even with water only slightly charged with
germs or with organic substances, it is accompanied with the production of light;
the water contained in the bottle remains phosphorescent for several seconds.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
The operator is seated in front of his apparatus, the left hand passed through
the opening A, and the left foot resting upon the pedal P; with his right hand he
holds the lever L. The lever being depressed, he seizes an empty bottle V con-
veyed by the endless sheet t, with his left hand; he places this bottle upon the
support S and fixes it in position by releasing the said pedal P. He then raises
the lever L, the cocks E¹ and O¹ open, and the emulsion of water and ozone enters
the bottle. Whilst this latter is being filled, the operator takes a cork in his left
hand and inserts it in the conical part with which the socket B is provided
(Figure 4) beneath the rod N. As soon as the filling is completed, the operator
depresses the lever with his right hand and, whilst he is corking the bottle, closes
at the same time the cocks E¹ and 0¹. He then seizes the bottle with the left
hand, presses upon the pedal in order to release it by throwing the lever d out of
engagement with the stem r, and places the bottle upon the endless sheet which
conveys it outside the chamber.
One of the principal advantages which results from the employment of a
chamber the atinosphere of which is aseptic, is that a bottle filled with sterilised
liquid may be submitted to any desired manipulation within the chamber without
any danger of contaminating the liquid.
Instead of sealing the bottles with corks, they may be stoppered by means of
glass or any other suitable mechanical stoppers.
It will of course be understood that the process and the apparatus which I
have described are not only applicable to the sterilisation of water. They may be
employed for sterilising liquids of all kinds; more especially milk, wine,
pharmaceutical preparations, serums, beer, and so forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a general manner, the process of sterilisation above described which
consists in effecting a simultaneous sterilisation of the liquid and of the vessel
intended to contain it, either by causing a current of ozone to pass into the vessel

page_text: eviously filled with liquid, or by causing an emulsion of the liquid and of ozone
enter the vessel; the sterilisation taking place entirely or at least being
mpleted within the receiving vessel.
2. The particular arrangement described above and represented in the accom-
nying drawings, and characterised by:
(a) The employment of an emulsion device (Figure 3) intended on the
one hand to intimately mix the ozone and the liquid to be purified and
sterilised, and on the other hand to introduce an excess of ozone into the
vessel which receives the liquid for the purpose of sterilizing its walls;
(6) The employment of a glazed chamber or closed receptacle of any suitable
form, the atmosphere of which is strongly ozonated.
ozone,
(c) A mechanism enabling the cocks for the admission of the water and the
for conveying the empty bottles, for placing them in position, filling
and sterilising them, and for conveying the filled bottles to be operated
from outside.
Dated this 9th day of July 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.