How to make ozonated glycerin
Short answer: ozonated glycerin is made the same way as ozonated water or oil: oxygen goes into the generator, and the ozone that comes out is bubbled through the glycerin with a stone diffuser. The difference is that glycerin is much thicker than water, so it takes longer and rewards fine bubbles, a steady setup and good notes.
What you need
- An oxygen-fed ozone generator such as the WPS-100, WPS-400 or WPS-120.
- An oxygen source: an oxygen tank with a low-flow regulator, or an oxygen concentrator.
- Silicone tubing, which has an A rating against ozone.
- A stone diffuser. It is all natural stone and will not break down with use of ozone. The WPS-100 and WPS-400 already include one.
- Glycerin, in a clean glass container that is taller than it is wide, so bubbles travel up through as much glycerin as possible.
Step by step
- Set up somewhere well ventilated, away from anything that could knock the container over.
- Connect your oxygen source to the generator inlet.
- Run silicone tubing from the generator outlet to the stone diffuser.
- Lower the diffuser to the bottom of the container so the bubbles rise through all of the glycerin.
- Set your oxygen flow on the regulator, then the output setting on the generator. Check your output chart for the concentration that pair gives you.
- Start the oxygen first, then turn on the generator.
- Let it run, watching that bubbles keep coming steadily from the diffuser.
- When you stop, turn off the generator first, then the oxygen, and lift the diffuser out.
Why glycerin takes longer than water
Glycerin is thick and syrupy. Bubbles move through it slowly and the ozone has to work through a dense liquid, so ozonating glycerin takes considerably longer than ozonating the same amount of water. Plan for a long run rather than a quick one, and expect to build up your own timing over a few batches.
What makes the biggest difference
- Fine bubbles. The smaller the bubbles coming through the liquid, the more saturated with ozone it becomes. This matters even more in a thick liquid like glycerin.
- A steady, repeatable setting. Use the same oxygen flow and output setting each batch and check them against your output chart.
- Container shape. A tall, narrow container gives each bubble a longer path through the glycerin.
- A generator that can run the job. Long runs suit a generator built for it. Our quartz glass cold corona generators do not generate a significant amount of heat, and the WPS-120 has a calibrated chart for precise, repeatable settings.
- Notes. Write down the amount of glycerin, the flow, the setting and the run time for every batch, so you can repeat what works.
Looking after your equipment
Glycerin is sticky. Clean the stone diffuser thoroughly after each batch and let it dry fully before the next one, and keep the silicone tubing clean. Replace tubing that hardens or cracks.
Questions we get asked
Which generator is best for glycerin?
Any of our oxygen-fed generators can do it. If you want precise, repeatable concentrations for long runs, the WPS-120 has absolute settings and a calibrated output chart. If you also ozonate water or oil, the WPS-400 lets you run one or both chambers.
Can I use the diffuser that came with my generator?
Yes. The WPS-100 and WPS-400 include a stone diffuser, and spare stone diffusers are sold separately.
How do I know how long to run it?
There is no single answer: it depends on how much glycerin you have, your concentration and your setup. Start with your output chart, keep notes on each batch, and repeat what works for you.
A note on safety
Ozone is a strong oxidizer and it is harmful to breathe. Run your generator in a well ventilated room, keep the ozone inside tubing and closed containers, never breathe it directly, and follow the instructions that come with your unit.