Did you spill red wine or spaghetti sauce on your brand-new white t-shirt? Or are you trying to keep your home germ-free? What is the number one to-go-to to fix this problem? Bleach of course! Also known as sodium hypochlorite in most industries.
The formula for sodium hypochlorite
Chlorine bleach leach is made by mixing water with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI), which is an extremely useful, widely available, and low-cost disinfectant.
Uses for sodium hypochlorite
In your household, you may know it as the liquid in that white or blue plastic bottle often spotted near the family washing machine where it gets added to laundry for germ-killing and stain-removing purposes. This household chemical has also been widely used as a disinfectant for mopping floors and cleaning toilets.
But bleach has many more uses and a much wider range of applications than just in the home. Here are a few:
Retail and restaurants – Businesses with high consumer traffic use diluted chlorine bleach solutions to help disinfect countertop surfaces, public bathrooms, and kitchens. Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, using bleach, can help prevent the spread of viruses.
Paper and pulp industry- Hypochlorite has been used as a bleaching agent in the wood pulp industry, all the way back to 1880, and is still being used today. However, through the course of time new, more environmentally friendly methods have been discovered which have led to an increase in its use. There are two types of hypochlorite bleaching agent that are used in pulp and paper industries, calcium hypochlorite and sodium hypochlorite.
Water treatment- Chlorine began to be widely used as a disinfectant in the early 1900s. The acid in chlorine reacts with microorganisms, deactivating them and thereby reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases. The use of Sodium Hypochlorite in the water purification process has significantly improved the quality of life for people across the world.
The advantages of sodium hypochlorite include the following:
- Dosage is simple.
- Transport and storage are safe.
- It’s effective for disinfection.
- It produces residual disinfectant.
The disadvantages of sodium hypochlorite include the following:
- It’s a dangerous and corrosive substance, safety measures have to be taken at all times in order to protect workers using the chemical as well as the environment.
- Exposure to air should be avoided for it will cause disintegration.
Follow these safety tips when working with sodium hypochlorite:
- Chlorine bleach which is meant for household purposes, should be used according to the manufacturer’s directions on the label.
- Chlorine bleach should never be used at full strength; for specific applications, users should dilute the product with water according to label directions.
- Chlorine bleach is harmful, therefore contact with skin and eyes should be avoided by wearing the appropriate protective eyewear and plastic or rubber gloves.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Store sodium hypochlorite in a cool place, away from direct sunlight to extend its shelf life.
- Never mix chlorine bleach with any other product because it forms toxic fumes that are extremely harmful and can be deadly when inhaled.
Chemtoll Chemical Toll Manufacturers is a Cape Town-based Level 1 BBBEE and ISO 9001 accredited expert in the supply and manufacturing of bulk chemicals including sodium hypochlorite. As your trusted partner in bulk chemical manufacturing, Chemtoll is the perfect toll manufacturer for your needs. We will help you to not only produce a quality product, but also to perfect your recipes and formulas. Contact us on +27 21 842 2963 for a need analysis, a comprehensive quote, or for more information on sodium hypochlorite or the other products we offer.
