Chlorine dioxide: Overview
Description
The major use of chlorine dioxide is as a bleach in a number of industries: in cleaning and de-tanning of leather, and as a bleaching agent for wood pulp, fats and oils, cellulose, flour, textiles, and beeswax.
Chlorine dioxide is registered as a bactericide, fungicide and algaecide. It is used to disinfect human drinking water systems, commercial water cooling tower systems, and metal cutting fluids. It may also be used to disinfect dairy farm animals and milking equipment, in eating establishments and food processing/handling areas and around the house. It is used extensively in Europe for disinfecting drinking water, and its use there is increasing as well as in North America and Australia, as an alternative to chlorine due to lesser problems with disinfection by-products.
Approved food additive in Australia (No. 926).
Substance details
Substance name: Chlorine dioxide
CASR number: 10049-04-4
Molecular formula: ClO2
Synonyms: chlorine peroxide; chloroperoxyl; doxcide 50; chlorine oxide; chlorine(IV) oxide
Physical properties
Chlorine dioxide is a strongly oxidising, yellow to reddish-yellow gas or liquid with a pungent, sharp odour. The odour is similar to that of chlorine and nitric acid. Soluble in water, alkaline, and sulfuric acid solutions. It is normally supplied as a less than 10% solution in cold water.
Melting Point: -59°C
Boiling Point: 11°C
Specific Gravity: 3.09
Vapour Density: 2.3
1 ppm = 2.8 mg/m3
Formula mass 67.452
Chemical properties
Chlorine dioxide gas is flammable, and is violently explosive in air at concentrations over 10%. It can be ignited by almost any form of energy, including sunlight, heat, or sparks. Chlorine dioxide is strongly oxidising, and reacts violently with organic chemicals and can be detonated by sunlight, heat, or contact with mercury or carbon monoxide.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of chlorine dioxide emissions in Australia.
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