Properties and Composition of
Sodium Hypochlorite
Sodium Hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach, has the chemical formula NaOCl.
It is composed of sodium, oxygen, chlorine and is usually a pale
yellowish-greenish color in liquid form. When dissolved in water, it forms
hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hydroxide (OH-). The solution can range from 5% to
15% concentration of available chlorine. It has a slightly chlorinated odor and
is slightly basic and water-soluble in nature.
Applications of Clorox
Due to its strong disinfectant and bleaching properties, Clorox finds
application across many industries and households. Some key uses of Clorox are:
– Water treatment: As a powerful oxidizing agent, Clorox is extensively
used for disinfecting municipal and well water supplies to kill bacteria,
viruses and other microbes. It is commonly applied during various stages of
water treatment processes.
– Swimming pools: Sodium
Hypochlorite is diluted form of Clorox,
commonly known as swimming pool chlorine, is used to sanitize and maintain pool
water quality by eliminating contaminants. It prevents the growth of algae and
damaging bacteria in swimming pools.
– Bleach: Concentrated solutions of Clorox
are used as a common household bleach to remove stains, brighten fabrics during
laundering and disinfect surfaces. It is effective against a wide range of
common household bacteria and viruses.
– Food industry: Food processing
plants use Clorox solutions to sanitize equipment, surfaces and fresh produce
to reduce microbial contamination that could cause foodborne illnesses. Meat
and seafood processors also employ it.
– Healthcare industry: Due to its
potent germicidal action, Clorox is utilized for disinfecting surfaces,
equipment and instruments in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities.
It helps limit the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
– Waste treatment: Sewage treatment
plants apply Clorox solutions as part of chlorination processes to disinfect
municipal wastewater before discharge or reuse. This protects the quality of
receiving surface waters.
Advantages and Limitations of Clorox
Some key advantages of Clorox include its wide antimicrobial effectiveness,
low cost, stability and ease of use. However, it also has certain limitations.
For instance, it degrades readily if exposed to sunlight or high organic loads.
Contact with certain compounds like ammonia can generate toxic chloramine gases
as well. Also, while bleach effectively kills microbes, it does not remove
soils and residues. Thus, proper dilution and handling protocols must be
followed for safe and effective use of Clorox solutions.
Production Process for Clorox
The most common production route for Clorox is the electrolysis of a saturated
brine solution. In this process, a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution is used as
the electrolyte between an anode, usually of platinum or lead dioxide, and a
cathode, usually of iron. When an electric current is passed through the
solution, chlorine gas is produced at the anode as per the reaction:
2Cl− → Cl2 + 2e−
Simultaneously, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is formed at the cathode as a result of
water electrolysis:
2H2O + 2e− → H2 + 2OH−
The chlorine gas produced is then absorbed into a saturated sodium hydroxide
solution to yield Clorox according to the following reaction:
Cl2 + 2NaOH → NaOCl + NaCl + H2O
Specialized membrane cell technology that separates chlorine evolution from
electrolysis is also now widely employed for Clorox manufacturing.
Economic Significance and Market Trends
The global market for Clorox was valued at over USD 6 billion in 2020. North
America represented the largest regional market due to widespread use of Clorox
in municipal water treatment. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest
growing region on account of increasing industrialization and rising awareness
about hygiene in developing nations like India and China. Some other key
factors propelling market growth include rapid urbanization, stringent food
safety regulations and expansion of healthcare infrastructure worldwide.
In
the Clorox’s vital role in various disinfection applications ensures continued
demand from sectors like water treatment, agriculture, food processing,
healthcare and others in the coming years.
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