Chlorine dioxide is a real gas at room
temperature. As a real gas, it expands to
uniformly fill the space it is contained within,
regardless of the effect of gravity. This gives it
the natural ability to contact all surfaces within
a space in equal concentrations, guaranteeing
an even level of kill throughout the space. Its
small molecular size coupled with this
distributive ability allows the gas to penetrate
even the smallest cracks and crevices in walls
and floors and reach all surfaces of food
processing equipment.
Chlorine dioxide has the ability to destroy
bacterial spores, thus confirming that all
other microbial life present in the treatment
area has been eliminated. Chlorine dioxide
works by penetrating the cell wall of
microorganisms and disrupting the pathogen’s
metabolic functions, thus immediately and
permanently eliminating the problem at its
source. It is a powerful biocide at
concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm over a wide
pH range, does not produce hazardous
by-products, and is more effective than
hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, quaternary
ammonia and sodium hypochlorite
(chlorine bleach).
Studies from the FDA and EPA show that
chlorine dioxide is effective in eliminating over
20 of the most common harmful pathogens,
including Salmonella, Listeria, E Coli, Clostridia,
B anthracis (anthrax), and several species of
fungal molds and yeasts
No Residue
Immediately Resume Production
Unlike some other fumigants such as hydrogen
peroxide which leaves a residue and is also a
human carcinogen, chlorine dioxide gas does
not leave a residue, it is not a carcinogen.
Some chemical fumigants are applied using a
dry fog and/or vapor decontamination method
which leave a residue, necessitating a
post-treatment cleaning, and often requiring an
extended period of time prior to resuming plant
operations to allow the chemical concentrations
to dissipate and reach levels for human
habitation. This residue is attributed to the
nature of these products and their composition.
Chlorine dioxide does not leave a residue and
does not require post-treatment cleaning.
Processing plants can immediately be
re-occupied and begin production once gas
levels have reached the human habitation level
of 0.1 parts-per-million, typically within 60
minutes of gas cessation.
Corrosive
A typical chlorine dioxide decontamination
treatment exposure is often in the range of
1,000 – 1,500 ppm-hours (concentrations of ~
200 ppm for five to eight hours).
ClO2 Sterilization partners has performed
rigorous testing of stainless-steel exposure to
chlorine dioxide and has shown no signs of
corrosion with concentrations as high as
900,000 ppm-hours (50,000 ppm for a period
of 18 hours).
The exception to any evidence of corrosion on
stainless-steel would be due to poorly
passivated welds, and/or other deposits
resident on the stainless steel which may show
signs of oxidation.
Chlorine dioxide itself has been shown to be
compatible with stainless steel and several other
metals through exposure studies using the
pure, gaseous and liquid form. The concern
about chlorine dioxide corrosion is most likely
due to confusing it with chlorine or chlorine gas.
Also, some liquid chlorine dioxide solutions are
produced by mixing a sodium chlorite base with
an acid (most commonly citric acid) which
creates a liquid chlorine dioxide solution as well
as chlorous acid and acidified sodium chlorite.
It is these acidic by-products which can cause
corrosion of metals.
Sodium hypochlorite, paracetic acid and
hydrogen peroxide are much more corrosive
than chlorine dioxide. Other than unpainted
mild steel, which may show signs of light
oxidation, no other metals will be affected by
chlorine dioxide.
Remains Active in Water
Chlorine dioxide does not react with water, has
a neutral pH in water, and stays as chlorine
dioxide within the water. This enables it to kill
organisms within the water, as well as any on
the surface beneath the water.
This trait is unique to chlorine dioxide among
decontaminating agents.
When mixed with water, chlorine bleach
(sodium hypochlorite) forms hydrochloric acid.
Hydrogen peroxide, by contrast, will dilute in
water and cannot kill organisms within or
beneath the water.
Destroys Biofilms
Biofilms form when bacteria adhere to surfaces
in moist environments by excreting a slimy,
glue-like substance. A biofilm community
almost always consists of rich mixtures of many
species of bacteria and other microorganisms.
This biofilm matrix develops complex
three-dimensional, resilient, attached microbial
‘communities’, increasing the difficulty of
decontamination. Rigorous studies, has shown
that treating a log-8 biofilm with chlorine
dioxide will achieve sterilization within four
hours.
A log-8 biofilm is far in excess of what would be
expected on a regularly cleaned surface or
partially wet surface in any environment.
NOT Explosive When Fumigating
The concentration at which chlorine dioxide gas
is used for fumigation is approximately 1,000
times less than the explosive threshold. This
makes the risk of explosion ZERO as explosive
concentrations cannot be achieved during the
fumigation process.
There is some truth to the notion that chlorine
dioxide can be explosive. Chlorine dioxide, if
compressed, may be explosive and this is the
reason why it must be created at its point of
use. ClO2 Sterilization creates pure chlorine
dioxide gas on-site using two different and
distinct methods and does not incorporate any
compressed gases in any form, in the
fumigation process.
NOT a Carcinogen
There is no evidence that chlorine dioxide is a
carcinogen. Chlorine dioxide can be found in
toothpastes and mouthwashes.
It is used to treat municipal drinking water
supplies and to rinse various fruits, vegetables,
and meats. Both the EPA and FDA have
approved the use of chlorine dioxide for use in
these instances.
Chlorine Dioxide versus Other
Treatment Agents
ClO2 Sterilization Inc, uses a 99.5% pure
chlorine dioxide gas, which is scientifically and
statistically less corrosive than hydrogen peroxide,
peracetic acid, ozone and sodium hypochlorite
(bleach).
Chlorine dioxide gas is used every day to
decontaminate rooms, suites, and other spaces.
Hydrogen peroxide is most often injected as a
vapor into the space being decontaminated.
Unlike consumer use of 3% hydrogen peroxide,
decontamination services using this chemical
typically deploy a 35% hydrogen peroxide / 65%
water composition. When the hydrogen
peroxide vapor condenses, the condensate’s
hydrogen peroxide concentration can increase
from 35% to almost 80%. This increase
in concentration adds to hydrogen peroxide’s
corrosive nature, as noted in its incompatibility
with some epoxy finishes on walls and
flooring as well as other materials.
Chlorine dioxide has an odor similar to a
swimming pool and can be sensed (smelled)
below the 0.1ppm threshold, acting as an
alert in case of a leak, as personnel are aware
of the leak at very low levels below the human
habitation level, allowing them to act upon it as
they deem fit (either aborting the process or
fixing the leak).
By contrast, hydrogen peroxide is odorless, and
any leakage cannot be easily identified by
nearby personnel, allowing for leakage and
exposure to personnel to continue and worsen.
Another property which aids in the use of the
chlorine dioxide process is its status as a real
gas. Chlorine dioxide does not condense on
surfaces; therefore, in case of emergency the
gas can be aerated down to safe human
habitation levels quickly.
Hydrogen peroxide is a liquid at room
temperature and therefore condenses on
surfaces. This condensate takes much longer to
dry and aerate from a space, needing hours if
not overnight before it is safe for human
habitation. This means that in the event of
leakage, chlorine dioxide gas can be removed
making the area safe for human habitation,
while hydrogen peroxide may takeuntil the
next day.
Summary
Chlorine dioxide gas and chlorine dioxide
aqueous solutions, when applied effectively, can
be more effective in killing harmful bacteria,
mold and spores and far less corrosive than
many other fumigants. Due to its nature as a
gas that does not condense on surfaces, a plant
can be re-occupied, and operations can
resume immediately upon aeration and
reducing gas level to the 8-hour safety level of
0.1 ppm or less, often within no more than a
few hours of cessation of gas production.
A significant added value in using
ClO2 Sterilization Inc, is our capability to cost
effectively deploy a chlorine dioxide
decontamination engagement for areas ranging
from small electric cabinets to entire plants.
Additionally, ClO2 Sterilization Inc, can train
your operators in the deployment of ClO2 Gas,
our 99.5% pure chlorine dioxide product, for
areas up to several thousand cubic feet,
helping you cost-effectively manage your
sanitation and decontamination needs.