ROS
Reactive Oxygen Species
The technology of disinfection and oxidation has not advanced in more than 30 years. Outdated treatment protocols for recreation and watershed water treatments are not able to eliminate biologic growth in filtration systems, on ultraviolet systems, nor within distribution systems.
- There are as many as 20 toxic chemicals available for the treatment of pools and spas. Using toxicity brings side-effects such as DBPs (disinfection by-products) and skin and smell issues. ROS does not have those problems.
- Lake & Pond water issues can be extreme with metals, invasive species and toxic algae. The volume of toxic chemicals needed to attack these culprits brings serious side-effects. Using ROS, those threats are eliminated.
- Watershed issues consists of emerging contaminants and organic pollutants. Violent pathogens such as flesh-eating bacteria, cryptosporidium, giardia, legionella, listeria and so on are treating within seconds using ROS. Toxicity cannot compete against them.
MINLOX™ has improved the technology of disinfection and oxidation by mimicking nature. Nature utilizes a variety of “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) while using specific minerals and metals to aid in the distribution of ROS thus acting as catalysts for ROS reactions against microbes and organic contaminants. MINLOX™ advances disinfection technology by translating what nature does into a simple-to-use, liquid formula. The result...is a disinfection ability, for the management of viruses, bacteria, molds and biofilm that is more than 12 times that of conventional chlorine treatments. It far exceeds peroxides and provides a residual protection that ozone is not capable of.
Toxic chemicals "coat" pathogens while MINLOX™ "bursts" them.
Ozone-like
Ozone is one of the most effective methods of protecting against pathogen contamination in the environment. It is a natural form of unstable oxygen (O3 rather than O2). Ozone releases the extra oxygen atom, in the form of a “free radical”. These free radicals act somewhat like an unguided missile; hitting the organic target (contaminant, or pathogen), and destroying the target. This free radical function is very different from that usually found in the use of such products like chlorine. Ozone does not poison, it actually destroys the target. The “target” cannot become immune to this free radical action.
The use of “mechanically-generated” Ozone has existed since 1860, for the control of pathogens in potable water systems. For over 100 years, chemists have attempted to perfect an inexpensive method of generating Ozone by mechanical means. Unfortunately, Ozone still remains an expensive capital investment for the average user in need of environmental control and improvement. MINLOX™ was developed to act as a liquid form of free radical oxygen - just as Ozone generates free radical oxygen.
MINLOX™ requires no expensive capital investment - only a simple injection into the water stream to be treated. In addition, MINLOX™ may be sprayed onto hard surfaces. This application enables the user to control the spread of pathogens, and/or organics in water and on surfaces (bacterial slime, algae, fungus, etc.).
The only residual after the application of MINLOX™, in the water, or on surfaces, is atomic oxygen and GRAS (generally regarded as safe) minerals. No chemicals or harmful residuals are left to be of a concern.
By shifting the valance of an oxygen molecule, we create an ozone-like chemical in liquid form.
Nascent Oxygen
MINLOX™ as stated, is a unique mixture of minerals and oxygen in liquid form. When it comes in contact with pathogens or organic contaminants, it releases Nascent Oxygen. This “release as needed” property of MINLOX™ offers a strong downstream residual to continue disinfecting.
What is Nascent Oxygen? Oxygen, as it occurs naturally, is a compound of two atoms of oxygen. Nascent Oxygen refers to making available a single atom of oxygen.
Why Nascent Oxygen? It provides the highest efficiency of oxidation. Oxidation is an aggressive reaction that dramatically changes the physical properties of a target compound. Of the many elements that will cause oxidation reactions...Nascent Oxygen is the most aggressive agent and gives the added bonus of not producing toxic by-products.
For pathogen control, the amount of Nascent Oxygen necessary to kill pathogens is much less than other oxidants or disinfectants.
Oxidation outperforms toxicity dramatically.
Hydroxyl Radicals
OH● is the most reactive oxidizing agent in water treatment. It is very non-selective in its behavior and rapidly reacts with numerous species. The attack by the OH radical, in the presence of oxygen, initiates a complex cascade of oxidative reactions leading to mineralization of the organic compound. Hydroxyl radicals attack organic pollutants through four basic pathways: radical addition, hydrogen abstraction, electron transfer, and radical combination. The exact routes of these reactions are still not quite clear. Hydroxyl radicals (OH) are non-selective. They attack simultaneously the same pollutant and overwhelm it causing imminent disruption. Transition, mineral-catalyzed reactions...dissolved in water offer many advantages. Water is readily available and inexpensive; it is not flammable or explosive. Consequently, the reaction processes are inherently safer and scalable.
MINLOX™ has the highest yield production of hydroxyl radicals among all AOPs. It also generates large amounts of oxygen ions (reactive oxidant), and superoxide, hydroperoxide anions and perhydroxyl radicals (reactive reductants). The Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) released in the process are continually interchanging electrons and regenerating as well as producing new ROS.
The synergy derived from this redox (oxidation-reduction) equilibrium, increases the electrochemical potential higher than any of the reactive species acting alone. This redox activity is perpetuated by the transition minerals catalysts stabilized in solution and thus supports long-residual protection.
Hydroxyl radicals (OH) are non-selective.