Hi,

I purchased a 1Kg bag of Chlorine Dioxide powder which I intended to use for disinfecting caravan water tanks and other smaller plastic containers and water bladders for drinking water, I choose the powder over tablets as the tablets are much more expensive. The recommended dosage for non municipal water from lakes, dams, rivers etc ranges anywhere from 1-2ppm to 10+ depending on the water quality and filtration. This 1kg bag treats 100,000L at 1ppm.

From my research there are two types of dry Chlorine Dioxide products, one that comes in two parts, and another that is just a single powder-which is what I have. But I can't find any specific info on application and want to be sure.

So what I'm wanting to know, is it as simple as just using a small medicine spoon to scoop up a small amount of the powder and putting it onto a fine consumer scales to measure the required mass (mg in my case), then adding that to a small cup/bucket of water, then adding that small solution to the main tank?

What other things should I know about this? thanks.

First you dont have Chlorine dioxide as powder, because it's a gas. You have a salt what can release chlorinedioxide if dissolved in water. Or you can purchase ready for use solutions.

What is written on your bag?

Apart from a whole lot of marketing and telling the user to contact them for dosage and guidance. The main standout info is:

Ingredients: Sodium Chlorite - 5 to 30%,

List the uses, like disinfecting potable water, swimming pools etc,

Basic directions: Add the powder to the water source, do not mix the powder in smaller volumes of water. Do add water to powder, Best used immediate after opening bag.

1kg powder treats up to 100,000L of potable water at 1ppm.

Safety directions: warns of highly reactive compound that can cause burns, fires and explosions. Don't allow to come into contact with other chemicals like acids or combustible materials like paper, fabric, fuels etc. Don't allow to get damp and store dry.

Offers basic first aid and a hotline to call.

No data sheet.

1 hour ago, J99 said:

Apart from a whole lot of marketing and telling the user to contact them for dosage and guidance. The main standout info is:

Ingredients: Sodium Chlorite - 5 to 30%,

List the uses, like disinfecting potable water, swimming pools etc,

Basic directions: Add the powder to the water source, do not mix the powder in smaller volumes of water. Do add water to powder, Best used immediate after opening bag.

1kg powder treats up to 100,000L of potable water at 1ppm.

Safety directions: warns of highly reactive compound that can cause burns, fires and explosions. Don't allow to come into contact with other chemicals like acids or combustible materials like paper, fabric, fuels etc. Don't allow to get damp and store dry.

Offers basic first aid and a hotline to call.

No data sheet.

There seems to be some inconsistency in the Basic Directions. If you are to add powder directly to the water source and not premix in smaller volumes, is there a missing "not" in the statement "Do add water to powder", i.e. should it read "Do not add water to powder"?

The statement that you are not to mix in smaller volumes of water implies you should not premix a concentrate, as you are proposing. But I must admit I am not sure why this would be. I can't see how you are supposed to achieve uniform dispersal throughout a large volume of water by adding powder directly.

One other point is I think you need something to activate the sodium chlorite to release ClO2. From what I read, this is generally done by chlorine or acid, including any natural acidity of the water, if present. Are there no directions about this?

Edited May 13May 13 by exchemist

14 minutes ago, exchemist said:

One other point is I think you need something to activate the sodium chlorite to release ClO2. This can be done by chlorine or acid, including any natural acidity of the water, if present. are there no directions about this?

No, they are clearly reluctant to give any real info out. It seems this is more directed for technicians who are experts in water treatment.

I was just hoping to save money, and mixing powder with scales is very easy and would allow me to treat any arbitrary size tanks down to even 20L. I only choose Chlorine Dioxide as it can kill Crypto, whereas Chlorine found in common liquid products cannot.

May have to abounded this.

Google was reluctant to provide useful information about what chlorine dioxide powder is, but I did manage to find a Safety Data Sheet for a particular brand of the powder. It turns out that it is a mixture of sodium chlorite and sodium bisulfate. Given that these two react in solution to form chlorine dioxide, it is understandable why the powder should not be premixed in a small volume of water.

https://horticentre.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/Safety%20Datasheets/Exstinkt%20Pure%20(Ixom)%20SDS.pdf

Edited May 13May 13 by KJW