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Sodium Hypochlorite
Sodium hypochlorite is a very powerful oxidizing, bleaching and disinfecting agent. Chemically speaking,
it is the result of the equilibrium reaction between elemental chlorine and caustic soda. The presence of caustic soda is
necessary to keep the pH at high values, thus avoiding the release of free chlorine. Usually it is supplied as an aqueous
solution.
| Specifications |
| Relative density (at 25°C/25°C) Min. |
1.20 |
| Available Chlorine (as Cl), percent by mass by volume |
12.5 to 15.0 |
| Total chlorine, percent by volume (as Cl) |
12.5 to 15.0 |
| Free alkali (as NaOH), g/l, Min. |
5.0 |
| Free Sodium carbonate (as Na2CO3), g/l, Max. |
0.5 |
| Iron (as Fe), ppm, Max |
1.0 |
| Sodium Chlorate |
Traces |
| Applications |
Bleaching:
Sodium hypochlorite is one of the first, if not the first, chemical bleaching
developed and produced in large amounts by the industry. It is one of the most powerful bleaching agents available and it
is very much applied in the bleaching of pulp and paper and textile fibers. Thanks to its remarkable ability to eliminate
stains and coloration, the product is also traditionally used in household cleaning to remove particularly resistant stains. |
Disinfection:
Sodium hypochlorite is also one of the most effective disinfecting agents. Its ability to pass
through the cell membranes, joined to its high chemical potential, permits the product to kill practically every kind of microorganism,
even at low temperature and low concentration. Due to that, sodium hypochlorite is widely used in industrial and household
applications for fast and ensured disinfecting action. It is also widely used in the sterilization of potable water. |
Oxidation:
Sodium hypochlorite shows a very high chemical potential. This property
is exploited in a wide range of chemical reactions. |
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