Ozone depletion is a major environmental problem because it increases the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches Earth’s surface, which increases the rate of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and genetic and immune system damage.

Ozone causes considerable damage to plants around the world, including agricultural crops and plants in natural ecosystems. Ozone damages plants by entering leaf openings called stomata and oxidizing (burning) plant tissue during respiration. This damages the plant leaves and causes reduced survival.

They’re an important component of creating hydroxyl radicals, which are natural air scrubbers (that are completely safe to breathe).

The hydroxyl (OH) radical is the key species of the photooxidation cycles in the atmosphere that oxidize primary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to form secondary oxygenated gas species and aerosols, which can be toxic and often carcinogenic (1).

Hydroxyl generators work in a way that is most similar to ozone in the sense that they produce oxidizing gasses that break apart odor molecules. The two primary differences, however, are that hydroxyls are scientifically confirmed to be far more reactive than ozone, and they’re safe to use with sensitive materials.

The hydroxyl radical is a very reactive and short-lived molecule that contains one hydrogen atom and one oxygen atom. These go on to react with hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide molecules, and break them up — scrubbing the atmosphere clean.

The earth around us naturally provides clean air that is produced from a series of complex interactions between the land and atmosphere. Forests, for example, absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. To help produce clean air, natural resources such as wetlands, trees, and soil, filter many pollutants from our air.

In a biological body, hydroxyl radicals attack the cell membrane, causing membrane damage and destroying sugar groups and DNA base sequences, inducing the disintegration of the double-helix structure, even causing cell death and mutations.

Hydroxyls work primarily by abstracting hydrogen atoms, thereby dismantling the molecular structure of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Powerful hydroxyl generators using the same broad range of UV radiation as the sun are now used to naturally clean and deodorize indoor environments.

Alcohol, any of a class of organic compounds characterized by one or more hydroxyl (―OH) groups attached to a carbon atom of an alkyl group (hydrocarbon chain).

Price: Hydroxyl generator prices run the full gamut from a low of $500 to a high of $4,500.

TM: Hydroxyls are the second strongest oxidant in the world behind atomic fluorine. They are one million times more reactive than ozone, which means they break down a much broader range of odors and pathogens compared to ozone.

Ozone vs Hydroxyl Generators Hydroxyl does not leave behind any chemical smells. Hydroxyl can be used in wet areas to get rid of the odors. You must use ozone machines without anyone in the room, and cannot return to the space for at least an hour after the ozone machine has completed its run.

Most notably hydroxyl radicals are produced from the decomposition of hydroperoxides (ROOH) or, in atmospheric chemistry, by the reaction of excited atomic oxygen with water.

Odorox® patented technology is able to replicate the creation of atmospheric hydroxyl radicals that are found outside on a sunny day. Hydroxyls decompose inorganic and organic compounds both in the air (gasses and aerosols) and in surfaces; wherever they come in contact with the compounds.

A hydroxy or hydroxyl group is a functional group with the chemical formula -OH and composed of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to one hydrogen atom. In organic chemistry, alcohols and carboxylic acids contain one or more hydroxy groups.

Water is definitely an inorganic compound (dihydrogen oxide) and methyl alcohol is definitely an organic compound.