ChlorineDioxide(ClO2)isadisinfectant,usedfordisinfectionofdrinkingwater.Ithasa widepHrangeandisalsoeffectiveagainstbiofilm,theprotectivelayerthatbacteriaand virusesformonsurfaces.
It is a very powerful disinfectant and it is very forgiving in a variety of application situations,becauseitdoesnotreactwithwaterororganics.Inmanyapplications,itisa
muchbetterchoicethanchlorinebecauseitismoreversatileanddoesnotproduceany harmfultrihalomethaneswhenoxidized.
Inlabtestsitwasshowntobemoreeffectivethanchlorineatinactivatingfungalspores, especiallyinacidicconditions.Theoxidationprocesscausesthereleaseofcellsubstances, whichultimatelyinactivatethemicroorganisms. Besidesbeinganeffectivedisinfectant,italsoisanexcellentantimicrobial.Itcankill bacteria,fungiandvirusesatlowconcentrations.Itdoesnotrequireanyspecialcontact timeanditisnotdependentonthetoxicityoftheorganisms.
The odorless gas is produced in a controlled environment and has many practical applications.Itisoftenusedinwatertreatmentplantstoreduceodorsfromwastewater, andasanoxidantfordestroyingphenolsinthewater.
Itcanalsobeusedtosanitizeair,forexampleintheairscrubbersofanimalbyproduct (rendering)plants.Itisalsousedinthefoodprocessingindustryandasableachto sterilizeanddeodorizefoods.
Asadisinfectantitisextremelyeffectiveagainstallmicroorganisms,including those resistanttochlorine.Italsoremovesbiofilmfromwaterpipesandcoolingtowers,which isverydifficulttokillwithotherdisinfectants.
Thisisbecauseitreactsdirectlywiththecellwallsofthemicroorganisms,allowingitto penetratetheprotectivelayerthatprotectspathogenicbacteriafromotherdisinfectants. Thismakesitanexceptionallyversatileandforgivingbiocide,abletowithstandawide pHspectrumwithoutbecominglesseffectiveoraccumulatinginwatersystems.
Anotheradvantageofchlorinedioxideisthatithasahigheroxidationpotentialthan chlorineandthereforeitseffectivenessincreasesasthepHisincreased.Thisisduetothe factthatCDSreactswithsubstancesthatgiveoffelectronswhileitpreferstousethese electronsforitsownreaction.
Inwateritisactiveasabiocideforatleast48hours,anditsactivityprobablyoutranges thatofchlorine.Itpreventsbiofilmformation,whichmakesitanexcellentbactericidal agentagainstLegionellabacteriaincoolingtowers.
Itisminimallycorrosivetosteel,whichmakesitanexcellentchoiceforcorrosioncontrol inpipelinesandequipment.Itistentimesmoresolubleinwaterthanchlorineandsafe methodsforitsproductionhavebeendeveloped.
Itcanbestoredinawaterysolutionaslongastheconcentrationisbelow1%ClO2andis protectedfromlightandheatinterference.However,concentrationsabove10%inairmay causeanexplosionhazardifthestorageistoolong.