How is chlorine dioxide produced?
Chlorine dioxide is explosive under pressure. It is difficult to transport and is usually manufactured on site. Chlorine dioxide is usually produced as a watery solution or gas. It is produced in acidic solutions of sodium chlorite (NaClO2), or sodium chlorate (NaClO3). For large installations sodium chlorite, chlorine gas (Cl2), sodium hydrogen chlorite (NaHClO2) and sulfuric or hydrogen acid are used for the production of chlorine dioxide on site. To produce chlorine dioxide gas, hydrochloric acid (HCl) or chlorine is brought together with sodium chlorite.
