Why does Chlorine Dioxide Beat Chlorine Every Time?

27 Jun,2019 | Blog

Companies are starting to look for replacements for chlorine, and are finding that in many applications, Chlorine Dioxide is a better and more useful biocide for their sanitation needs. Chlorine bleach is hard to compete against on cost, however, chlorine dioxide can add value in ways which chlorine bleach cannot. Please see some reasons below.

Now, you will catch four key instigators to make use of Chlorine Dioxide:

Solubility and Oxidizing Strength

Chlorine may be cost effective, but chlorine dioxide is approximately 10x more soluble in water as compared to chlorine. Additionally, for comparing concentration strength, we look at how these products oxidize. An oxidizing agent is an “electron receiver”, with chlorine having the capacity to receive 2 electrons, whereas chlorine dioxide can receive 5 electrons. This helps to explain why chlorine dioxide is about 2.5x stronger and more effective at lower ppm rates as compared to chlorine.

pH is Important

Chlorine dioxide has a much wider pH spectrum as compared to chlorine, which results in chlorine dioxide being more versatile and forgiving in a wide variety of applications. Since the product retains biocidal effectiveness over a wide pH range, this takes away the extra time and need for pre-treating water to ensure chlorine bleach will be effective in an application.

Corrosion and DBP’s

GO2 chlorine dioxide has been tested and validated to show no corrosive properties up to 1,000 ppm on stainless steel (disinfection use rates are only 150 ppm).

Additionally, chlorine bleach applications have to deal with the issue of disinfection by-products (DBP’s), because bleach chlorinates organic material, which results in by-products like THM and HAA’s.

In comparison, chlorine dioxide oxidizes humic substances, which act as DBP precursors, making them non-reactive and unavailable for THM production. Instead, the oxidized DBP precursors can be removed from the “finished” water through coagulation, settling, and filtration prior to final treatment.

Biofilm Destructions Issues

Chlorine dioxide has been found to be highly effective at removing and controlling biofilm formation found inside many waterlines. Biofilm is a polysaccharide film that protects and harbors bacteria colonies. Since chlorine dioxide is a true gas vapor, with water as its carrier, chlorine dioxide is able to penetrate the biofilm and oxidize from within. Chlorine dioxide can help users remove and control biofilms at much lower ppm levels as compared to chlorine bleach.

Chlorine dioxide is an effective solution for a wide range of applications. Please reach out to GO2 for additional information, and we will be happy to help you.

Conclusion

Chlorine dioxide is a faster and more potent source of disinfectant capability without any worry of high Ph levels. This disinfectant is more soluble than others as it has a dissolving capacity 10 times faster than chlorine. Using chlorine dioxide is good for any sized company in need of slime control due to product efficacy at low ppm levels, low infrastructure needs and competitive product pricing. Please reach out with slime control needs and we will be happy to help.

Tags: Chlorine Dioxide, chlorine dioxide disinfectant, chlorine dioxide water purification, Why does Chlorine Dioxide Beat Chlorine Every Time?