O₃ dissolved in water (or ozonized water) has been considered a potent antimicrobial agent, and this study aimed to test this through microbiological and in vitro assays. The stability of O₃ was accessed following modifications of the physicochemical parameters of water, such as the temperature and pH, with or without buffering. Three concentrations of O₃ (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 ppm) dissolved in water were tested against different microorganisms, and an analysis of the cytotoxic effects was also conducted using the human ear fibroblast cell line (Hfib). Under the physicochemical conditions of 4 °C and pH 5, O₃ remained the most stable and concentrated compared to pH 7 and water at 25 °C. Exposure to ozonized water resulted in high mortality rates for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. Scanning electron micrograph images indicate that the effects on osmotic stability due to cell wall lysis might be one of the killing mechanisms of ozonized water. The biocidal agent was biocompatible and presented no cytotoxic effect against Hfib cells. Therefore, due to its cytocompatibility and biocidal action, ozonized water can be considered a viable alternative for microbial control, being possible, for example, its use in disinfection processes.

The use of combustion in industrial activity is of paramount importance for economic and social development. However, combustion reactions are the main sources of atmospheric pollutant emissions. Given this reality, it is necessary to study new combustion techniques, such as the application of oxygen in the process, in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of the burning process and energy production. In addition, studies have reported the use of acoustic excitation, a low-investment technique that can promote higher rates of heat and mass transfer. Thus, the goal of this study was to bring data on the current scenario related to the application of these two technologies to the combustion process where, through the reported results, they can be used as a guide for companies’ decisions about new technologies and global trends to be identified. For this, a technological prospection was carried out which focused on patents to investigate the use of oxygen-enhanced combustion and acoustic excitation coupled to the combustion process; a total of 88 documents were found. Few documents applied acoustic excitation for process improvement, indicating that its use is recent; however, according to the literature, it is a promising field to be explored. Siemens AG was the main depositor, and ten primary inventors were identified. Germany and the United States were the countries with the highest number of filings. In the prospected documents, it was possible to identify that there is a need for the further investigation of the joint use of both techniques. These investigations may lead to the development of processes and devices that can provide economic and environmental gains for the energy industry.