Sodium Hypochlorite
 First produced in 1789 in France by passing chlorine
gas through a solution of sodium carbonate
 Today it can be produced in two ways:
 By dissolving salt in softened water, which results in a
concentrated brine solution. The solution is
electrolyzed and forms a sodium hypochlorite solution
in water
 Using this process, hydrogen gas is also produced
 The second way is by adding chlorine gas to caustic
soda, creating sodium hypochlorite, water, and salt
Sodium Hypochlorite
 Clear/slightly yellowish in color
 Unstable
 Chlorine evaporates at a rate of 0.75 grams of active
chlorine per day
 Disintegration occurs faster at warmer temperatures
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Should be kept in a climate-controlled environment
 Strong oxidizer
 Raises pH due to presence of caustic soda in
hypochlorite
Sodium Hypochlorite Uses
 As household bleach, hypochlorite is available as 3-8%
 An effective sanitizer as low as 2%
 As a disinfectant, hypochlorite is available as 10-15%
 12% most common in water disinfection
 15% most common in wastewater disinfection
 Large-scale usage in agriculture, and paint, lime, food,
glass, paper, pharmaceutical, and waste disposal
industries
 Can be used to prevent algae growth in cooling towers
Sodium Hypochlorite Disinfection
 Used in place of chlorine gas
 As effective as chlorine gas
 Simple dosage
 Produces a measureable residual
 Can still create disinfection by-products
 Trihalomethanes & Haloacetic acids
Sodium Hypochlorite Safety
 Various health effects can occur after exposure
 Inhalation: sore throat & coughing
 Skin: redness & pain
 Should use common sense when transferring from
bulk tank to day tank
 Use respiratory and skin protection
Ammonia
 Also referred to as aqueous ammonia, liquid ammonia,
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ammonia water, ammonium hydroxide
One of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals
in the US
80% of ammonia produced is used as fertilizer
Also used in the treatment of water supplies, and in the
manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, and
dyes
Household ammonia cleaning solutions are between 5-10%
ammonia
Industrial ammonia solutions may be 25% or higher and
are highly corrosive
Ammonia
 At room temperature, ammonia is a colorless, highly
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irritating gas with a pungent, suffocating odor
Corrosive
Ammonia gas dissolves easily in water
Is not highly flammable, but may explode when
exposed to high heat
Gas is lighter than air and will rise
 Exception to this is areas of high humidity – gas will
form vapors that are heavier than air
Ammonia in Water Treatment
 Used in conjunction with chlorine to create
chloramines
 Commonly used when water travels a great distance
 Helps prevent the creation of disinfection by-products
Ammonia Safety
 Has a greater tendency to penetrate and damage the
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eyes than does any other alkali
Even low concentrations produce rapid eye irritation
Repeated exposure can cause chronic cough, asthma,
and lung fibrosis
Odor provides adequate early warning, but ammonia
also causes olfactory adaptation or fatigue, reducing
awareness of prolonged exposure at low
concentrations
No antidote to ammonia poisoning
 Only supportive measures
Ammonia Safety
 SCBA is recommended in response situations that
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involve exposure to potentially unsafe levels
If contact with skin or eyes, immediate
decontamination with copious amount of water is vital
If inhaled, immediately remove that person to fresh air
Ammonia should be stored/handled in a wellventilated area
Wash hands immediately after handling
Wear protective glasses and clothing