A COMPANY whose invention could revolutionise cleaning, food sterilisation and water purification has landed more than £600,000 to start manufacturing.

Newcastle University spin-out business Clarizon has spent six years developing its electrochemical cell technology that generates ozone which dissolves in water and kills harmful bacteria and removes dangerous chemicals like pesticides before the gas evaporates.

It is designed to replace cleaning methods which use chemicals like chlorine as well as more complicated ways of putting ozone into water such as a steriliser and Clarizon hopes it will grow to make a big impact on a wide range of industries.

Managing director Clive Dyson has spent 20 years developing technology for businesses including work on semiconductors with companies such as Philips and he was involved in the launch of Newcastle pharmaceutical plc e-Therapeutics.

He said: “There is a huge market out there for this technology. It is simple, efficient, clean and safe. It doesn’t use harmful chemicals like chlorine that have to be rinsed away and it uses less power and is less cumbersome than existing ozone production methods.

“There are so many markets for this, ranging from floor cleaning to washing potatoes before they are made into oven chips. And it is easier than current cleaning processes.

“If you look at beer pipeline cleaning, for instance, you have to have someone flush down the lines for 20 minutes, and keep the staff in the pub there all the time. Whereas with this it is all automated.”