What is CDS?
Are you currently dealing with CDS and would like more information about it?
Then you've come to the right place. In the following text, we answer the most frequently asked questions and go into many details about CDS.
In this article we cover the following products:
CDS pure 0.3%
CDS Caps
BioClean
Hydrochloric acid 4%
Sodium Chlorite 28%
What is chlorine dioxide?
Chlorine dioxide is a yellow-reddish gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.
Chlorine dioxide is a chemical compound of chlorine and oxygen. The chemical formula is ClO2.
That means we have one atom of chlorine and two atoms of oxygen.
Boiling point: 11 °C
Decomposition from 45 °C
What is CDS, chlorine dioxide solution?
Chlorine dioxide solution is by definition water in which chlorine dioxide gas is dissolved. The term "CDS" comes from chlorine dioxide solution.
In English "CDS" chlorine dioxide solution.
A standardized value for the concentration of chlorine dioxide is 0.3% or 3000ppm (parts per million). This means that 1 liter of CDL contains about 3 grams of chlorine dioxide.
Chlorine dioxide solution is falsely touted by certain sources as a medicine and miracle cure for your health.
Who discovered chlorine dioxide?
Chlorine dioxide was probably first discovered by Humphry Davy. In 1811, he obtained it by disproportionation (splitting) of chloric acid (HClO3) as the first known halogen oxide.
What is CDS suitable for?
Chlorine dioxide solution is used in various fields. In the textile and pulp industry, chlorine dioxide is used as a bleaching agent and has now largely replaced chlorine.
Our suitable product: CDS 0.3 % ultrapure
In various countries, chlorine dioxide solution is used as a food additive, including as a flour treatment agent and preservative. The solution also continues to be used to treat poultry, red meat, fish, seafood, and fruits and vegetables in the United States.
Chlorine dioxide is excellent for disinfection.
As a gas, it is used in areas such as building disinfection as well as disinfection of laboratories, for example. Chlorine dioxide also continues to be used successfully in mold and fungus control, thanks to its gaseous nature.
In certain countries (e.g. Japan) chlorine dioxide is used for air disinfection. This on the one hand in small bags worn around the neck. Here, a defined amount of chlorine dioxide gas constantly flows into the ambient air of the wearer and disinfects it. In addition, small capsules and bags are placed at specific points in buildings, where they continuously release chlorine dioxide gas and thus keep the room air and objects germ-free.
Drinking water treatment:
The city of Zurich, as well as various other cantons, use chlorine dioxide solution to disinfect drinking water in the water supply. In Germany, it has been used for years to disinfect Lake Constance water used as drinking water.
German drinking water ordinance ClO2: 0.2-0.4 mg/l.
Our suitable product: BioClean (explanation see below).
Is chlorine dioxide solution the same chlorine as in the swimming pool?
Chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite are used in swimming pools. These must not be confused with chlorine dioxide, as they have different chemical compositions and are therefore fundamentally different.
Is CDS bleaching lye?
Chlorine dioxide solution can bleach clothes, but it has nothing to do with the chlorine bleach solution often incorrectly quoted in the press.
See Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natriumhypochlorit.
Both chmical formulas contain the chlorine atom:
- Chlorine dioxide has the formula ClO2
- Bleaching lye is sodium hypochlorite and has the formula NaClO (e.g. swimming pool chemistry).
While correctly prepared chlorine dioxide solution has a neutral pH (approx. pH 7), bleaching lye has an extremely high pH >11.
CDS hardly reacts with acid. Accidental splashes on the skin can be washed off quickly and without residue with water.
NaClO, on the other hand, reacts violently and dangerously with acids. Contact with the skin or even the eyes can lead to serious adverse health effects, since alkalis are viscous and can only be rinsed off slowly with a lot of water, so that the contamination time is considerably longer than with CDS, for example.
CDS compared to chlorine
Chlorine dioxide is even more effective against bacteria than chlorine. Unlike chlorine, CDS is also effective against viruses and many protozoa (single-celled organisms). Many scientific studies have testified to this for many years. This is especially true in the USA and Japan.
The advantage of CDS over chlorine: CDS forms significantly fewer chlorinated hydrocarbons from organic material.
Alternatively, ozone (O3) is also used. The disadvantage, ozone can react with bromides, which occur naturally in water. This reaction forms carcinogenic bromates.
This reaction does not occur with chlorine dioxide.
In medicine, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is often used for disinfection on the body. Unfortunately, because of its high redox potential, it destroys not only germs but also human tissue.
"Toxicity" of CDS (source Wikipedia).
In toxicology, the lethal dose (LD, Latin: Dosis letalis) is the dose of a particular substance that has a lethal effect on a particular living being.
....... A lethal effect can occur at much higher doses/concentrations or at lower doses/concentrations, for example, weakening due to disease.
Therefore, the dose whose lethal effect relates to 50 percent of the observed population is usually given: the mean lethal (fatal) dose LD50.
Comparison of "lethal dose" LD50 of table salt and CDS
Table salt (NaCl): LD50 3,000 mg/kg body weight
content in 1 kilo table salt: 1000 grams
à 1 g or ml CDS contains 1.00g NaCl
Assumption: human of 70 kg body weight
LD50 amount of table salt: 70 * 3g = 210 g NaCl per human as LD50
Chlorine dioxide (ClO2): LD50 94 mg/kg body weight.
Content in 1 kilo CDS: 3 grams
1 g or 1 ml CDS contains 0.003g ClO2
Assumption: Human of 70 kg body weight
LD50 amount of ClO2: 70 * 0.094g = 6.58 g ClO2 per human being
6.58 g ClO2 / 3 g ClO2 /l = 2.19 liters CDS per human as LD50
Decomposition products of CDS
Chlorine dioxide decomposes during application and during decomposition (more or less slowly during storage) into minute amounts of water and common salt. There are no other residues.
Storage: Can CDS run off?
Chlorine dioxide solution steadily decreases in concentration. The speed of the process depends, in addition to its pH being as neutral as possible, particularly on storage. Chlorine dioxide is bound in water. The gas tends to decompose, causing the concentration of the solution to decrease.
Depending on the frequency of use and the storage temperature, incidence of light, the concentration of the contents may decrease more slowly or more rapidly over time.
Reason: When the bottle is opened (especially above 11°C), a small amount of chlorine dioxide gas escapes from the bottle each time and the concentration slowly decreases. Light (UV radiation) can also neutralize the chlorine dioxide. If stored too warm (45°C), CDS will decompose.
We give the following recommendation for storage:
- protect from sunlight
- store below 11°C
- Always close the container tightly
- if necessary, store in the refrigerator
Quality test: Is the CDS still good?
A simple way to check: As long as the drops or liquid are yellow and smell like "swimming pool", there is at least a certain amount of chlorine dioxide in it. If necessary, increase the application quantity accordingly.
Colorless solutions without "swimming pool smell" have lost their effect and should be disposed of. Pour into the sink or toilet.
How long does CDS keep in the refrigerator?
We guarantee the minimum shelf life of our CDS for 6 months, provided the container is stored unopened, dark and cool. Depending on storage conditions, the CDS can remain usable for many months longer.
Traveling with CDS
When traveling, care should therefore be taken to keep CDS insulated against heat and to protect it from overheating.
Practical alternative: "CDS Caps" from mychem.ch are dry as an ideal CDS carrier and therefore easier to transport and store. The full CDS effect occurs after dissolving in water after a certain time.
Our suitable product: CDS Caps
How is CDS manufactured?
There are various methods of producing CDS:
These manufacturing methods are known as chemical and/or electrolytic reactions.
However, depending on the components, etc., the concentration and residual content (purity) can vary greatly.
- One known method is to react sodium chlorite with hydrochloric acid and other acids and dilute with water.
- Another is to react the two and dissolve the ClO2 gas in water.
- An electrolytic variant is using an electrolyzer to treat sodium chlorite.
- The above procedures are generally known and used more or less successfully by the end users.
Then there are other processes which are known and used by the industry.
Chlorine-chlorite process: Chlorinated water with acid pH (< 2) is reacted with 10% sodium chlorite solution.
Hydrochloric acid-chlorite process: Sodium chlorite is reacted with hydrochloric acid to form chlorine dioxide, common salt and water. The reaction with sodium peroxodisulfate produces sodium sulfate as a by-product. This also occurs naturally in drinking water.
Chlorine dioxide is also obtained on a laboratory scale by oxidation of chlorite. The oxidizing agent for this is either sodium peroxodisulfateNa2S2O8 or chlorine gas.
Chlorine dioxide can alternatively be obtained by disproportionation of sodium chlorite in acidic solution.
The reaction of potassium chlorate with concentrated sulfuric acid is another method. Oxalic acid is added to reduce the risk of explosion. Here, a chlorine dioxide-carbon dioxide mixture is formed.
Reduction of chlorate by hydrogen peroxide is another way to produce moderate amounts of chlorine dioxide for technical use.
The production and quality incl. concentration of our CDS and Caps are described with the respective articles in the store.
Please understand that we keep the exact formulations of our proprietary developments secret.
Chlorine dioxide solution in four different variants at mychem.ch
At mychem.ch you can get chlorine dioxide solution in four different ways.
- Our new, practical: CDS Caps
- Our technical solution: CDS 0.3% pure (100ml/250ml)
- Our certified biocide: BioClean universal and drinking water sterilizer
- Our two-component solution: sodium chlorite 24-26% (or 25% ultrapure) and hydrochloric acid 4% ultrapure
For product comparison a table of the products:
| CDS Caps | CDS | BioClean | Sodiumchlorite & Sulfuric Acid | |
| Shelf life | > 3 years | < 6 months | < 6 months | unlimited |
| Concentration | daily 100% | stetig abnehmend | steadily diminishing | daily 100% |
| Size | small, practical, handy | 100 ml / 250 ml | 100 ml | 2x 100 ml / 2x 250 ml |
| Preparation | 8 - 10h | ready for use | ready for use | 3/4 min. |
For information on the manufacturing method of CDS with Caps as well as the two component solution (sodium chlorite & hydrochloric acid), please refer to the respective product description.
BioClean
BioClean is an officially approved biocide with registration number CHZN3849.
BioClean is a disinfectant and consists of a solution of 0.3% chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in water.
Disinfectants are substances that kill microorganisms and thus prevent the transmission of pathogens.
Instructions for use for drinking water disinfection
Prefilter raw water through a cloth (e.g. pocket handkerchief) or filter, depending on contamination and turbidity due to suspended matter. Add 0.7 ml or 12-18 drops of BioClean per liter of water and mix briefly. Is sterilized after 20 minutes of dark storage. Very suitable for drinking water disinfection in mobile homes.
Instructions for use for surface disinfection
Lightly moisten the surface to be cleaned with damp household paper or cloth. Then add 5-10 drops of BioClean per dm2 of surface, depending on the degree of soiling. Spread evenly over the surface to be cleaned. Repeat treatment as needed.
BioClean is a product with a wide range of uses. It can be used in a wide variety of everyday situations. Here are a few examples and suggestions:
- Preventing the formation of algae, for example, in the fountain in the rain barrel or the bird bath.
- Cleaning your drinking bottle
- Cleaning of tools for food processing, e.g. a sack knife
- Cleaning water tanks in caravans and mobile homes
- Cleaning your fruits or vegetables while traveling to prevent traveler's diarrhea as well as poisoning
Instructions for the preparation of chlorine dioxide solution from sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid
Preparation
Make sure the room is well ventilated, as chlorine dioxide gas escapes during the chemical reaction and you must not inhale it.
Be careful to mix only small amounts, e.g. three drops each. Larger quantities produce large amounts of gas.
Execution
Mix sodium chlorite 25% (NaClO2) and hydrochloric acid 4% (HCl) in a ratio of 1:1 in a vessel. The dropper insert of our 100ml vials is suitable for this purpose. Alternatively, you can use a pipette (rinse well after using each chemical).
After approx. 45 seconds the color becomes dark yellow to amber. Add the required amount of water. Now you can use the resulting CDS.
Our suitable products: Sodium chlorite 24-26% (or 25% ultrapure) (NaClO2) & Hydrochloric acid 4% ultrapure (HCl).
Quantity ratio of ready-made Mychem CDS compared to self-prepared CDS
One drop of each NaClO2 and HCI is equivalent to the ClO2 effective amount of eight drops of our finished CDS.
Example: 3 drops of NaClO2 mixed with 3 drops of HCl = 24 drops of Mychem CDS
Purities
Commercially available chemicals are usually available as "technical grade". This is usually the "worst" quality and always contains a relatively large amount of "impurities" from the precursors and the manufacturing process in plants that have not been cleaned very cleanly. "Normal" sodium chlorite and hydrochloric acid consequently contain certain amounts of various "impurities".
The CDS obtained by mixing NaClO2 and HCl logically contains the by-products from the raw chemicals and does not reach the purity of our finished CDS.
For the manufacturing process we use only high purity, very expensive, raw materials which are not commercially available.
The manufacturing process of our CDS is a special, elaborate Mychem proprietary development based on the reaction process.
The result is our CDS of the purest form.
Content of CDS on the market
The mychem chlorine dioxide solution with 3000ppm ClO2 has a strong yellow coloration. The content is monitored with a precise measuring device during production. Comparisons with other CDS show that these are usually only around 1000ppm ClO2. This means that the mychem CDS is very abundant.
