Chlorine dioxide is a yellow to reddish-yellow gas that can decompose rapidly in air. Because it is a hazardous gas, chlorine dioxide is always made at the location where it is used. Chlorine dioxide is used as a bleach at pulp mills, which make paper and paper products, and in public water-treatment facilities, to make water safe for drinking. It has also been used to decontaminate public buildings. Chlorine dioxide is soluble in water and will react rapidly with other compounds. When it reacts in water, chlorine dioxide forms chlorite ion, which is also a very reactive chemical. Because chlorine dioxide is very reactive, it is able to kill bacteria and microorganisms in water. About 5% of large water-treatment facilities (serving more than 100,000 persons) in the United States use chlorine dioxide to treat drinking water. An estimated 12 million persons may be exposed in this way to chlorine dioxide and chlorite ions. In communities that use chlorine dioxide to treat drinking water, chlorine dioxide and its byproduct, chlorite ions, may be present at low levels in tap water.
chlorine dioxide tablets
Wood-pulp bleaching is the largest use of chlorine dioxide, which is a uniquely selective oxidizer for lignin. In general, the trend in the pulp industry has been to eliminate chlorine and hypochochlorite as bleaching agents and replace them with chlorine dioxide. Since chlorine dioxide functions via an oxidative reaction rather than a chlorinating reaction, the formation of chlorinated organic compounds is limited. Also, unlike other oxidizing agents, chlorine dioxide does not attack cellulose, and thus preserves the mechanical properties of bleached pulp. In the final stages of the pulp-bleaching processes, chlorine dioxide is the most frequently used bleaching chemical. A unique whiteness can be achieved using chlorine dioxide in kraft pulp, sulfite pulp, and soda pulp processes. In the United States, the firststage of the pulp-bleaching process makes use of mixtures of chlorine and chlorine dioxide to reduce the formation of organic chlorine compounds (EPA 2002c; Kaczur and Cawlfield 1993; Vogt et al. 1986).
In the textile industry, chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent and produces high-quality textile fibers with additional qualities. For example, “shrinkproof” wool owes its qualities to the reaction of chlorine dioxide with the cross-linking sulfur atoms of the wool.
Both chlorine dioxide and chlorite react quickly in water and moist body tissues. If you were to breathe air containing chlorine dioxide gas, you might experience irritation in your nose, throat, and lungs. If you were to eat or drink large amounts of chlorine dioxide or chlorite, you might experience irritation in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach. Most people will not be exposed to chlorine dioxide or chlorite in amounts large enough to damage other parts of the body, but if you were, you might experience shortness of breath and other respiratory problems because of damage to the substances in blood that carry oxygen throughout the body.
Animal studies have shown effects of chlorine dioxide and chlorite that are similar to those seen in people exposed to very high amounts of these chemicals. In addition, exposure to high levels of chlorine dioxide and chlorite in animals both before birth and during early development after birth may cause delays in brain development. The levels to which the animals were exposed were much higher than levels that would likely be found in drinking water that has been disinfected with chlorine dioxide.
Chlorine dioxide is a very reactive compound. In air, sunlight quickly breaks chlorine dioxide apart into chlorine gas and oxygen. In water, chlorine dioxide reacts quickly to form chlorite ions. When chlorine dioxide reacts with dissolved organic compounds in water-treatment systems, it forms disinfection by-products, such as chlorite and chlorate ions. Like chlorine dioxide, chlorite is very reactive. Since chlorite is an ionic compound, it will exist primarily in water. Chlorite ions are mobile in water, and may move into groundwater. However, the reaction of chlorite ions with soils and sediments may reduce the concentration of chlorite ions capable of reaching groundwater.
Chlorine dioxide is always manufactured on site because of the risk of rapid decomposition. In all processes, chlorine dioxide is produced in strong acid solutions from either sodium chlorite or sodium chlorate. Small- and medium-scale industrial production of chlorine dioxide utilizes sodium chlorite as the raw material. This is typical of water treatment and disinfection applications that require high purity (i.e., chlorine-free) waters. Other applications not requiring high purity waters utilize sodium chlorate. This is typical of pulp bleaching where large quantities of chlorine dioxide are necessary. There are several processes used to generate chlorine dioxide from sodium chlorate. In the R2 process, chlorine dioxide is produced from sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid, with sodium chloride as the reducing agent. Chlorine dioxide is absorbed from the gas phase in packed towers in cold water, and chlorine leaves the system as a by-product. In the Mathieson process, a sulfur dioxide-air mixture is diffused into a solution of sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid. Sulfur dioxide is used as the reductant to produce chlorine dioxide with a much lower chlorine content. The process also produces sulfuric acid, reducing the overall acid requirement. Exit gases from the Mathieson process are passed through a scrubber to remove any unreacted sulfur dioxide. The Solvay process uses sodium chlorate and sulfuric acid, with methanol as the reducing agent. Products from this process are chlorine dioxide, formic acid, and carbon dioxide. In improved Solvay processes, sulfuric acid demand is reduced by crystallizing out the by-products sodium sulfate, sodium sesquisulfate, or sodium bisulfate (Kaczur and Cawlfield 1993; Vogt et al. 1986).
Chlorine dioxide is a flammable, reddish-yellow gas or reddish-brown liquid (below 11℃/52°F) with anirritating odor like chlorine or nitric acid. Molecularweight=67.46; Specific gravity (H2O:1)=1.6 (liquid at0℃); Boiling point=11℃; Freezing/Meltingpoint=259℃; Relative vapor density (air=1)=2.3;Vapor pressure=.1 atm at 20℃. Explosive Limits in air:.10%. Hazard Identification (based on NFPA 704 MRating System): Health 3, Flammability 3, Reactivity 3(Shock; Oxidizer). Soluble in water (reactive);solubility=0.3% at 25℃.
Chlorine dioxide,CI02, is a yellow-reddish gas.It is a very effective bleaching and water treatment agent. Chlorine dioxide is preparedby the reaction of chlorine and sodium chlorite. It is quite unstable and is commonly prepared immediately before use.
Chlorine dioxide is a flammable, reddishyellow gas, or reddish-brown liquid (below 11C/52F)
with an irritating odor like chlorine or nitric acid.
Yellow to red-yellow gas at room temperature; pungent chlorine-like odor; density 9.99 g/L at 11°C; liquefies to a reddish brown liquid at 11°C; liquid density 1.64 g/mL at 0°C; freezes at -59.5° C to red crystals (explodes); soluble in water, decomposes in hot water; soluble in alkalis and H2SO4.
Chlorine dioxide is used for several purposes,including its applications as a bleachingagent to bleach fats, oils, textiles, cellulose,paper pulp, flour, and leather. It is also usedfor purifying water; as an oxidizing agent;as an antiseptic; and in the manufacture ofmany chlorite salts.
Chlorine Dioxide is a gas used in bleaching and aging flour. it acts
on the flour almost instantly, resulting in improved color and dough
properties. because usage levels are low, the bleaching action is
limited.
Bleaching cellulose, paper-pulp, flour, leather, fats and oils, textiles, beeswax; purification of water; taste and odor control of water; cleaning and detanning leather; manufacture of chlorite salts; oxidizing agent; bactericide, antiseptic and deodorizer.
chlorine dioxide: A yellowish-redexplosive gas, ClO2; d. 3.09 g dm–3;m.p. –59.5°C; b.p. 9.9°C. It is solublein cold water but decomposed by hotwater to give chloric(VII) acid, chlorine,and oxygen. Because of its highreactivity, chlorine dioxide is bestprepared by the reaction of sodiumchlorate and moist oxalic acid at90°–100°C, as the product is then dilutedby liberated carbon dioxide.Commercially the gas is produced bythe reaction of sulphuric acid containingchloride ions with sulphurdioxide. Chlorine dioxide is widelyused as a bleach in flour milling andin wood pulping and also finds applicationin water purification.
An orange gas formed by the action
of concentrated sulfuric acid on potassium
chlorate. It is a powerful oxidizing
agent and its explosive properties in the presence of a reducing agent were used to
make one of the first matches. It is widely
used in the purification of water and as a
bleach in the flour and wood-pulp industry.
On an industrial scale an aqueous solution
of chlorine dioxide is made by
passing nitrogen dioxide up a tower
packed with a fused mixture of aluminum
oxide and clay, down which a solution of
sodium chlorate flows.
Chlorine dioxide is prepared by passing nitrogen dioxide through sodium chlorate packed in a column:
NaClO3 + NO2 → NaNO3 + ClO2
Also, it may be prepared by the reaction of chlorine with sodium chlorite:
2NaClO2 + Cl2 → 2ClO2 + 2NaCl
Alternatively, it may be obtained by the treatment of sodium chlorate or potassium chlorate with sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid:
2NaClO3 + SO2 + H2SO4 → 2ClO2 + 2 NaHSO4.
Chlorine dioxide is manufactured from the oxidation of
chlorite or the reduction of chlorate. The latter method is
used for large-volume production and is carried out in
strongly acidic solution using reducing agents such as
NaCl, HCl, sulfur dioxide, and methanol.
Explodes when heated or by reaction with
organic materials. Very irritating to skin and mucous
membranes. Lower respiratory tract irritant. Broncitis.
Chlorine dioxide is highly irritating to theeyes, nose, and throat. Inhalation can causecoughing, wheezing, respiratory distress, andcongestion in the lungs. Its toxicity inhumans is moderate to high. Its irritanteffects in humans can be intense at a con centration level of 5 ppm in air. A concen tration of 19 ppm of the gas inside a bleachtank caused the death of one worker (Elkins 1959). The chronic toxicity signs are mainlydyspnea and asthmatic bronchitis, and in cer tain cases irritation of the gastrointestinaltract. Ingestion of the liquid may cause som nolence and respiratory stimulation.
Nonflammable gas; however, it is highly
reactive and a strong oxidizing agent. Chlo rine dioxide explodes violently upon heating,
exposure to sunlight, contact with dust, or
when subjected to a spark. Detonation occurs
at concentrations above 10% in air in the
presence of an energy source or catalyst.
It undergoes violent reactions with organic
matter; explosion occurs when the mixture is
subjected to shock or a spark. It reacts spon taneously with sulfur or phosphorus, caus ing ignition and/or explosion. Liquid chlorine
dioxide may explode violently when mixed
with mercury, caustic potash, caustic soda, or
many metal hydrides. The gas reacts explo sively with fluorine and with difluoroamine
(Lawless and Smith 1968).
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
Moderately toxic by
inhalation. Experimental reproductive
effects. Mutation data reported. An eye
irritant. A powerful explosive sensitive to
spark, impact, sunlight, or heating rapidly to
100℃. A powerful oxidzer. Concentrations
of greater than 10% in air are explosive.
Explodes on mixing with carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons (e.g., butadiene, ethane, ethylene, methane, propane), fluoramines
(e.g., difluoramine, trifluoramine). Mtxtures
with hydrogen explode with sparking or
contact with platinum. Explodes on contact
with mercury, potassium hydroxide,
phosphorus pentachloride + chlorine.
Ignites or explodes on contact with nonmetals (e.g., phosphorus, sulfur, sugar).
Reacts violently with F2, NHF2. Reacts with
water or steam to produce toxic and
corrosive fumes of HCl. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of Cl-.
See also CHLORINE.
Chlorine dioxide is used in bleaching
cellulose pulp; bleaching flour; water purification; as a liquid sterilizer in an ultrasonic cleaner.
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove anycontact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts theskin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediatelywith soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Ifthis chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medicalfacility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and inducevomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.Medical observation is recommended for 24-48 h afterbreathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may bedelayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor orauthorized paramedic may consider administering a corticosteroid spray.
Color Code—Red Stripe: Flammability Hazard:Store separately from all other flammable materials. Prior toworking with chlorine dioxide you should be trained on itsproper handling and storage. This chemical is a powerful oxidizer, and is shock-, light- and heat-sensitive. It is violentlyexplosive in air at concentrations over 10%. Keep frozenwhen not in use. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool,dark, well-ventilated area at temperatures well below 130℃.Gas explosions may occur above 130℃. Use only nonsparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closingcontainers of this chemical. Sources of ignition, such assmoking and open flames, are prohibited where this chemicalis used, handled, or stored in a manner that could create apotential fire or explosion hazard. Use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings in storage area. See OSHAStandard 1910.104 and NFPA 43A Code for the Storage ofLiquid and Solid Oxidizers for detailed handling and storageregulations.
UN/NA 9191 Chlorine dioxide, hydrate, frozen,
Hazard class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer, 6.1-Poison
Inhalation. Explosive: It may only be shipped in the frozen
state and then only by private or contract motor carrier.
Unstable in light. A powerful oxidizer.
Chlorine dioxide gas is explosive at concentrations over
10% and can be ignited by almost any form of energy,
including sunlight, heat (explosions can occur in air in
temperature above 130C), or sparks, shock, friction, or
concussion. This chemical reacts violently with dust, combustible materials; and reducing agents. Reacts violently
with mercury, phosphorus, sulfur, and many compounds,
causing fire and explosion hazard. Contact with water
forms perchloric and hydrochloric acid. Corrosive to
metals.
Use large volume of concentrated solution of ferrous salt or bisulfite solution as reducing agent. Then neutralize and flush to sewer with
abundant water.
