Frequently Asked Questions about Chlorine Dioxide

Frequently asked questions with no-nonsense answers:

Is Chlorine dioxide the same as chlorine?

Chlorine dioxide's chemistry is radically different from that of chlorine. The addition of two oxygen atoms creates a totally different chemical with very different properties.

Where is chlorine dioxide most commonly used?

World-wide! Chlorine dioxide is used principally as a primary disinfectant for surface waters with odour and taste problems. It has been disinfecting water streams for over seventy years. It is used in many large European cities such as Brussels, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Toulouse and Vienna. Toxicology studies have shown that chlorine dioxide disinfection poses no significant adverse risk to human health.

How does chlorine dioxide affect the environment?

Chlorine dioxide is 'environmentally friendly' and in fact is a pollution protection technology that protects the environment and human health from bacteria and by-products formed from other disinfection methods. For example, in the pulp and paper industry the use of chlorine dioxide has virtually eliminated dioxins in mill waste and has led to a significant improvement in the aquatic eco-system.

What other applications use chlorine dioxide?

Chlorine dioxide is widely used as a disinfecting agent in the food industry in fruit and vegetable washing, flume water disinfection, meat and poultry disinfection and odour control. In industrial processes, chlorine dioxide is used in industrial water treatment (cooling systems/towers), ammonia plants, pulp mills (slime control, paper machines), oil fields and the electronics industry. It is also widely used within oral healthcare products in everyday life.

Is chlorine dioxide expensive?

The cost of producing chlorine dioxide is dependant on two factors - the cost of the precursor chemical and the cost of the equipment used to deliver the generated chlorine dioxide at the correct rate. Catalytic chlorine dioxide generation is the most cost effective production and delivery mechanism available on the market. When the costs are offset against reduced maintenance, energy savings, monitoring…..etc., combined with the improved water quality - chlorine dioxide offers the viable solution.

What organisms will chlorine dioxide eradicate?

Chlorine dioxide is a “complete spectrum” anti-microbial agent. In particular, it is effective against - Legionella, Pseudomonas, Listeria, E.coli and Coliforms, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, MRSA........etc