en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mitsubishi Electric, in collaboration with Professor Toshiaki Kamachi of the School of Life Science and Technology at Tokyo University of Science (Science Tokyo), announced in December 2025 that it has, for the first time globally, elucidated the mechanism by which the combined use of negative ions enhances the oxidizing effect of ozone.
Research shows that when negative ions dissolve in moisture surrounding viruses, bacteria, and other substances, nitrate-based components derived from negative ions (NO₃⁻) cause a decrease in pH, thereby enhancing the oxidizing effect of ozone in the water. Even at an ozone concentration as low as 50 ppb (0.05 ppm), combining it with negative ions can effectively reduce specific viruses, bacteria, and odors. Through multi-angle verification using ion chromatography, ESR measurements, and fluorescence analysis, the researchers confirmed that after one hour of exposure to negative ions and ozone, the pH dropped from neutral 7 to weakly acidic 5. This acidic environment makes ozone more stable, increasing the dissolved ozone concentration in water by 1.5 times compared to when negative ions are not used.
Test results show that this technology reduces Escherichia coli on test pieces and pink slime yeast around kitchen sinks by 99% within one hour, and reduces the odor intensity of sweat odor and line-dried odor (4-methyl-3-hexenoic acid) by more than 1 (over 90% odor reduction) within one hour.
Based on this mechanism, Mitsubishi Electric has developed a compact device that stably generates negative ions and ozone, measuring 80 mm wide and 26 mm high. The device structure features ion-generating electrodes on both sides, an ozone-generating electrode in the center, and a shielding electrode to prevent electric field interference. This achievement was presented at "Pacifichem 2025," the world's largest international chemistry conference, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, from December 15 to 20, 2025. Masao Yuge, General Manager of the Environmental Systems Technology Department at Mitsubishi Electric's Advanced Technology R&D Center, stated that the technology separates the negative ion and ozone electrodes, making it easy to adjust concentration output according to equipment needs.
Mr. Akinori Shimizu of Mitsubishi Electric's Environmental Systems Technology Department explained that lowering the pH with negative ions stabilizes ozone, allowing it to work efficiently at low concentrations. In the future, this technology is planned for application in crowded spaces, living spaces, and public transportation and mobile spaces such as cars, trains, and aircraft. The timeline for productization has not yet been determined, and discussions are ongoing within each business division.
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