The Advantages of Chlorine Dioxide

1. Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) is a disinfectant, used for disinfection of drinking water. It has a wide pH range and is also effective against bio film, the protective layer that bacteria and viruses form on surfaces. It is a very powerful disinfectant and it is very forgiving in a variety of application situations, because it does not react with water or organics. In many applications, it is a

2. much better choice than chlorine because it is more versatile and does not produce any harmful trihalomethanes when oxidized. In lab tests it was shown to be more effective than chlorine at inactivating fungal spores, especially in acidic conditions. The oxidation process causes the release of cell substances, which ultimately inactivate the microorganisms. Besides being an effective disinfectant, it also is an excellent antimicrobial. It can kill bacteria, fungi and viruses at low concentrations. It does not require any special contact time and it is not dependent on the toxicity of the organisms. The odorless gas is produced in a controlled environment and has many practical applications. It is often used in water treatment plants to reduce odors from wastewater, and as an oxidant for destroying phenols in the water. It can also be used to sanitize air, for example in the air scrubbers of animal byproduct (rendering) plants. It is also used in the food processing industry and as a bleach to sterilize and deodorize foods. As a disinfectant it is extremely effective against all microorganisms, including those resistant to chlorine. It also removes biofilm from water pipes and cooling towers, which is very difficult to kill with other disinfectants.

3. This is because it reacts directly with the cell walls of the microorganisms, allowing it to penetrate the protective layer that protects pathogenic bacteria from other disinfectants. This makes it an exceptionally versatile and forgiving biocide, able to withstand a wide pH spectrum without becoming less effective or accumulating in water systems. Another advantage of chlorine dioxide is that it has a higher oxidation potential than chlorine and therefore its effectiveness increases as the pH is increased. This is due to the fact that CDS reacts with substances that give off electrons while it prefers to use these electrons for its own reaction. In water it is active as a biocide for at least 48 hours, and its activity probably outranges that of chlorine. It prevents bio film formation, which makes it an excellent bactericidal agent against Legionella bacteria in cooling towers. It is minimally corrosive to steel, which makes it an excellent choice for corrosion control in pipelines and equipment. It is ten times more soluble in water than chlorine and safe methods for its production have been developed. It can be stored in a watery solution as long as the concentration is below 1% ClO2 and is protected from light and heat interference. However, concentrations above 10% in air may cause an explosion hazard if the storage is too long.