ClO2 is a highly effective eco-friendly microbiocide

It carries US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and United Kingdom (UK) Government approval for many of its uses. ClO2 has been recognized since the beginning of the century for its disinfecting properties; and has been approved by the US EPA for many applications including widespread use in the treatment of drinking water. It is a selective oxidant that eliminates both planktonic and sessile bacteria, disinfects surfaces, and rapidly destroys biofilms.

What makes up ClO2

• Yellow/Green in color
• Odor similar to chlorine
• Is highly soluble and stable in water at normal temperatures and pressures
• Remains 100% active in pH ranges from 5.0 – 9.0
• Chemical Formula: ClO2
• Molecular Weight: 67.45 g/mole
• Density: 2.4 times that of air
• Atomic Structure: 2-Oxygen atoms, 1-Chlorine atom

The commercial uses of ClO2 are many.

ClO2 is frequently used in refineries, power plants, and chemical processing plants to remove biofilm in a cooling tower, sterilize drinking water, protect Reverse Osmosis Units from biofilm, and sterilize oilfield type water.

One of the most common uses for Chlorine Dioxide is to sterilize cooling water basins and evaporation ponds. Cooling tower disinfection is important for two main reasons – microbiological control (including Legionella) and energy savings. Since there is a direct correlation between biofouling or a biofilm layer and the efficiency and heat transfer in a cooling tower, controlling this biofilm will improve heat transfer and lower the energy costs.

One of the most important industries in which ClO2 is used is the drinking water industry. ClO2 is routinely generated at municipal drinking water facilities to sterilize the water we consume every day. It is also used in bottled water plants to sterilize the containers, where drinking water is immediately added without rinse.

Utilizing the ClO2IX Process, we can now attack biofilm in Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems. Biofilm is the last great challenge in reverse osmosis system design and operation. Biofilm can decrease the flux rate in a RO System, increase fouling, increase cleaning frequency, and cannot fully be removed … until now. Most RO membranes are made of thin film composite (TFC) material which is destroyed by traditional biocides such as chlorine or bromine. However, Chlorine Dioxide (when properly generated) does not damage the RO Membrane, and cleans both the reject and permeate side of the membrane.

ClO2 is valuable in the oil and gas industry because of its ability to sterilize oilfield type waters at near, non-detectable levels. This is especially important as government agencies get more involved. ClO2 can be safely generated on any oilfield site to eliminate bacteria in completion fluids, destroy biofilms, remove algae and slime, and deodorize impoundments by scavenging the Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).