Understanding How Ozone Reacts with Unsaturated Oils

A simple travel experience helped spark our curiosity about ozonated oils.

During a long international flight, my business partner felt the early signs of a cold coming on. With very little available, he used a small amount of ozonated olive oil.

By the end of the trip, the symptoms had disappeared instead of progressing further.

This is only an anecdote, not a study — but it raises an interesting question:

What actually happens chemically when ozone reacts with olive oil?

To answer that question, we must first examine the molecular chemistry involved.

---

The Reactive Site in Olive Oil

Olive oil is composed primarily of fatty acids. The most important for ozone chemistry is oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid.

Simplified molecular structure:

CH3–(CH2)7–CH=CH–(CH2)7–COOH
↑
double bond

The carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) is the key reactive site.

Double bonds contain a region of high electron density, which makes them chemically attractive to reactive molecules such as ozone.

Because olive oil contains a large proportion of oleic acid, it provides many of these reaction sites.

---

The Ozone Molecule

Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms.

Chemical formula:

O3

However, ozone is not arranged in a simple straight chain. Instead it exists as a resonance structure, meaning the electrons are shared between two possible bonding arrangements.

Two simplified representations are often used:

O=O–O

or

O–O=O

The molecule continually shifts between these structures.

Because of this unstable electron distribution, ozone is highly reactive and readily reacts with molecules containing double bonds.

---

The Ozonolysis Reaction

When ozone encounters the double bond in oleic acid, a reaction called ozonolysis occurs.

This reaction proceeds through several distinct steps.

---

Double Bond Before Reaction

The starting structure contains the carbon-carbon double bond.

R–CH = CH–R

The R groups represent the remainder of the fatty acid chain.

---

Formation of the Primary Ozonide (Molozonide)

Ozone adds across the double bond to form an unstable ring structure called the primary ozonide, also known as a molozonide.

Diagram — Primary Ozonide

O
/ \\\\
R–CH CH–R
\\\\ /
O
|
O

Key features:

• five-member ring
• three oxygen atoms connected in sequence (O–O–O)
• extremely unstable

This structure exists only briefly.

---

Criegee Intermediate Formation

The primary ozonide rapidly breaks apart into fragments.

Two major fragments are produced:

R–CHO + R–CHOO
aldehyde carbonyl oxide
(Criegee intermediate)

The Criegee intermediate is a highly reactive carbonyl oxide.

Simplified structure:

O
||
R–CH–O–O

These fragments exist only briefly before recombining.

---

Formation of the Secondary Ozonide

The fragments recombine to form a more stable ring structure known as the secondary ozonide.

Diagram — Secondary Ozonide

O
/ \\\\
R–CH CH–R
\\\\ /
O–O

Key chemical feature:

O–O

This is a peroxide bond.

Secondary ozonides are the molecules that remain stored in ozonated oils after the ozone gas has disappeared.

---

Compounds Found in Ozonated Olive Oil

After prolonged ozonation, olive oil becomes a mixture of oxygen-containing lipid molecules.

These may include:

• secondary ozonides
• peroxides
• hydroperoxides
• aldehydes
• ketones
• other oxidized lipid compounds

These molecules contain additional oxygen atoms incorporated into the lipid structure.

---

Why Ozonated Oil Thickens

One of the most visible changes during ozonation is the gradual thickening of the oil.

Fresh olive oil is normally a free-flowing liquid. However, during ozonation it may become:

• more viscous
• cloudy
• eventually gel-like

This change reflects molecular changes occurring in the oil.

As ozone reacts with double bonds, the original lipid molecules are converted into oxygen-rich compounds. These modified molecules can interact with each other through hydrogen bonding and peroxide linkages.

As more of these interactions occur, the oil begins to behave like a loose molecular network.

Simplified visualization:

Fresh oil molecules

——— ——— ———
——— ———
——— ——— ———

After ozonation

—O—O— —O—
—O—O—
—O— —O—

The increased interaction between molecules causes the oil to thicken.

---

What Happens When Ozonated Oil Contacts Tissue

Once ozonation is complete, the ozone gas itself is gone. What remains are oxygen-rich lipid molecules.

These molecules can interact with biological tissue in several ways.

---

Peroxide Bond Reactivity

Peroxide bonds contain stored chemical energy.

R–O–O–R

When exposed to moisture, enzymes, or biological molecules, these bonds can slowly decompose.

This may generate small amounts of reactive oxygen-containing compounds.

---

Reactive Oxygen Molecules

Examples of molecules that may form include:

• hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)
• lipid hydroperoxides
• short-lived oxygen radicals

These molecules are chemically reactive but typically short-lived.

---

Oxidation of Microorganisms

Reactive oxygen compounds can interact with microbial structures.

Targets may include:

• lipid membranes
• viral envelopes
• microbial enzymes

Oxidation of these structures can disrupt microbial survival.

For this reason, ozonated oils have historically been explored in:

• dermatology
• wound care
• dental preparations
• antimicrobial topical formulations

---

Cellular Signaling and Adaptive Responses

Small amounts of reactive oxygen molecules can also function as biological signals.

Cells use these signals to regulate protective systems.

One important pathway is the Nrf2 pathway, which activates production of antioxidant enzymes such as:

• superoxide dismutase
• catalase
• glutathione peroxidase

These enzymes help regulate redox balance, the equilibrium between oxidative and antioxidant processes within cells.

---

Why Olive Oil Works Well for Ozonation

Several characteristics make olive oil suitable for ozonation.

High Oleic Acid Content

Oleic acid contains the double bond required for ozone reactions.

Molecular Stability

Compared with highly polyunsaturated oils, olive oil is relatively stable during oxidation.

Liquid Structure

Because olive oil is liquid, ozone can diffuse through the oil and react with the fatty acids.

---

Why Coconut Oil Reacts Differently

Coconut oil has a very different composition.

Most of its fatty acids are saturated, meaning they contain no carbon-carbon double bonds.

Example saturated fatty acid:

CH3–CH2–CH2–CH2–CH2–CH2–COOH

Because ozone reacts primarily with double bonds, coconut oil provides fewer reaction sites.

This means:

• ozonation proceeds more slowly
• fewer ozonide structures form

---

Why Glycerin Behaves Differently

Glycerin (glycerol) is not a fatty oil.

Its structure is:

HO–CH2–CH(OH)–CH2–OH

Because glycerin contains no carbon-carbon double bonds, it cannot undergo ozonolysis in the same way as unsaturated oils.

Instead, ozone reacts with glycerin through oxidation of alcohol groups, producing different oxygen-containing compounds.

---

Stability of Ozonated Oils

Unlike ozone gas, which decomposes quickly, ozonated oils can remain chemically active for extended periods.

This stability occurs because the reactive oxygen chemistry is stored within lipid molecules such as ozonides and peroxides.

Several factors affect stability:

Temperature — cooler storage improves stability
Light exposure — ultraviolet light can degrade peroxide bonds
Air exposure — oxygen can slowly oxidize the oil further

For this reason ozonated oils are often stored in dark glass containers in cool environments.

---

Producing Ozonated Oils

The ozonation process requires controlled ozone generation.

Step 1 — Ozone generation

Ozone is produced from oxygen using an electrical discharge.

3 O2 → 2 O3

Step 2 — Bubbling ozone through oil

Ozone gas is bubbled through the oil for many hours.

Step 3 — Progressive ozonation

During this process:

• double bonds react
• ozonide structures accumulate
• viscosity increases

---

Final Summary Diagram

Unsaturated fatty acid (C=C)
+
Ozone
↓
Primary ozonide (unstable)
↓
Criegee intermediate
↓
Secondary ozonide
↓
The result is a stored mixture of oxygen-rich lipid compounds that can remain chemically active long after the ozone gas itself has disappeared.

Recover U Technologies and Services Inc.

Maya Fabiszak, Director, Certified Oxidative Therapies Specialist, Certified Nutritionist & Environmental Lifestyle Counselor, phone 647.909.7419
Ewa Pringle, Cofounder, phone 289.217.5552

Websites:
Recover U Technologies and Services Inc.
Swiss Bionic Solutions

Related Articles

If you’re interested in how different oils behave during ozonation, you may also enjoy:

Why Coconut Oil Reacts Differently from Olive Oil During Ozonation

This article explains how saturated oils such as coconut oil respond differently to ozone and why olive oil remains the most common oil used in ozonation chemistry.

👉 Read the article here