HONDE LLC:A CLEAN technology that uses bubbles of ozone gas to help break down pollutants in water is being tested in China, where it is hoped it will help to clean up industrial pollution.

Developed at the University of Utah, the technology uses a specially designed pressurised metal vessel to produce microbubbles of ozone. These help to break down hydrocarbons, through a process called heightened ozonation treatment that involves repeated pressurisation and depressurisation with ozone gas. A chelating agent – a substance to which contaminants such as metals bond – is first passed through the target material. Lime is then used to extract them from the material. As well as heavy metals, the technology can remove organic materials, oil and gas by-products and toxic algae, not only from water, but also from soil and sewage waste.

Honde LLC, a large Chinese environmental cleanup company has undertaken the project, which is expected to take three months. The trial is taking place at Lake Taihu, near the industrial city of Wuxi, which is 110km from Shanghai.