Chlorine Dioxide Solution Benefits For Safe Water Purification

1. Doesn’t Produce Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)

Unlike free chlorine (known as household bleach), chlorine dioxide solution does not create potentially dangerous disinfection by-products. DBPs are harmful substances produced when a chemical disinfectant react with natural organic matters (NOM) present in the water during the disinfection process. This study have shown that increased exposure to DBPs in drinking water may have a negative impact on human health.

If your water comes from the municipal water supply system, it’s very likely that it has been treated with chlorine or other halogen-based chemicals during the disinfection stage.

Unfortunately, despite its widely known water disinfecting capabilities, a downside to using free chlorine is the tendency of this halogen to be more reactive with organic matters and to form more DBPs than other chemical disinfectants.

2. Removes Bad Taste and Odor from Water

Chlorine dioxide is a potent oxidizer, which means it can selectively react with specific contaminants while minimizing reactions with others. This makes chlorine dioxide-based products more effective than other disinfectants at neutralizing the following off-taste and odor-producing compounds in water:

• Algae growth can cause earthy, musty, and fishy tastes and odors. Chlorine dioxide destroys algae by deactivating their chlorophyll metabolism.
• Organic compounds such as decaying vegetation, algae, molds, and bacteria naturally present in surface water sources such as lakes, reservoirs and rivers, can produce off-tastes and odors.
• Inorganic compounds: Arsenic, nitrates, and lead, although not typically associated with strong flavors, can still pose serious health risks.

3. Can Provide Residual Disinfection

One of the most amazing Chlorine dioxide benefits is its ability to provide Residual disinfection. This means the disinfectant continues its antimicrobial activity in water for an extended period of time after the initial treatment. Chlorine dioxide solution has a long-lasting residual action that helps prevent the regrowth of microorganisms during storage and distribution.

What makes this possible is the relatively long half-life of chlorine dioxide gas in water, which allow its oxidizing properties to remain active for hours or even days, depending on conditions like temperature and pH.

Chlorine dioxide residual disinfection is a crucial aspect of water treatment, ensuring ongoing protection against microbial contamination. Its effective oxidation, stability, and lower formation of harmful byproducts make it a valuable tool for maintaining water safety and quality throughout distribution systems.

4. Effective Biofilm Control

Chlorine dioxide has strong oxidative properties and is known for its ability to effectively disrupt and destroy the protective cell matrix that provides structural stability for biofilms.

Biofilm is a complex aggregation of microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that adhere to surfaces in stored water containers. Stored water is particularly vulnerable to biofilms as the low flow and stagnation can facilitate biofilm proliferation, as microorganisms have more time to attach to surfaces.

Biofilms are difficult to treat and eradicate due to their increased resistance to most antimicrobial agents. This is attributed to the their rapid genetic mutation capabilities and their ability to create a protective cell wall that provides a physical barrier against antimicrobial stress.

However, biofilms are less likely to develop resistance specifically against chlorine dioxide due to CLO2 gas-like property that allow it to penetrate the bacterial cell walls more easily and quickly.