What is a Chlorine Dioxide Generator?
A chlorine dioxide generator, or CDG, is a device used to produce chlorine dioxide gas from a solution of sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid. CDGs are used in many industries, including food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacture, pool and spa water treatment, and more.
Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a powerful oxidizing agent and disinfectant that is very effective in killing bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. It also has a rapid kill-rate on certain types of fungi and is widely used in the food and beverage industry for sterilization, sanitization and disinfection. Chlorine dioxide is also used to treat water for drinking, swimming pools, and hot tubs.
There are two common types of chlorine dioxide generators, the manual chlorine dioxide generators and the automated chlorine dioxide generators. Manual chlorine dioxide generators require a chemist to manually read concentrations and add reagents, while automated chlorine dioxide generators are computerized and fully automated which makes them much easier to use.
Most chlorine dioxide generators are equipped with a reaction chamber which contains a solution of sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid. The reaction chamber is connected to a reaction timer and a chlorine dioxide analyzer. The reaction timer is set to convert the solution of sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid into chlorine dioxide after a predetermined amount of time. The chlorine dioxide analyzer monitors the concentration of chlorine dioxide gas in the reaction chamber. When the desired concentration is reached, the gas is ready for use.
The operating cost of a chlorine dioxide generator is relatively low compared to other disinfectant methods and there is no need for manual mixing of reagents or hazardous onsite mixing of chemicals. Chlorine dioxide can also be used as an economical method of treating large volumes of contaminated water such as in animal water troughs, irrigation systems and even municipal water systems.
Although chlorine dioxide is a powerful oxidizing agent and disinfectant, it has some drawbacks in certain applications. Chlorine dioxide is not very stable in alkaline solutions or in the presence of organic matter. Therefore, it must be used with caution when treating water containing dissolved organic materials such as natural organic matter or humic acids. It is also important to note that chlorine dioxide can be corrosive to certain types of metals so it must be used with care.
Overall, chlorine dioxide generators are extremely useful devices that can be used to produce a powerful disinfectant and oxidizing agent quickly and easily. They are relatively inexpensive to purchase and operate, and they provide a safe and efficient method of treating large volumes of contaminated water. Although there are some drawbacks when using chlorine dioxide, the benefits far outweigh the risks, making it an excellent choice for many disinfecting and sanitizing applications.
