Product Ingredient Evaluation

Sodium Chlorite (0.5%)

Sodium Chlorite (NaClO₂)
 Sodium Chlorite (NaClO₂) is an inorganic sodium salt in
which chlorite is the counterion.
 Is typically found in industrial setting as a bleach or as an
ingredient in disinfectants.It is a kind of efficient bleacher
and bactericide.
 Sodium Chlorite (80%) is marketed to both consumers
and industries for various uses.
 Larger concentrations of sodium chlorite are commonly
used for industrial purposes such as
1.Bleaching and stripping of textiles, pulp.
2.Sterilizing agent used in water treatment plants.
3.As disinfecting and sanitizing agent.
Chemical Properties
 Sodium Chlorite is a strong oxidizing agent and under
proper reducing conditions is readily reduced to chloride,
and to a lesser extent, chlorate. In strong acidic
conditions, chlorite can change into chlorine dioxide.
 It is a medium-strength acid and hydrolyses in water to a
limited extent.It is only active in acidic solution. Chlorous
acid decomposes into chlorine dioxide, chlorate, chloride
and oxygen in acidic solutions:
 5ClO2−+2H+→4ClO2+Cl−+2OH−
 3ClO2−→2ClO3−+Cl−
Disintegration of NaClO2 Molecule
 Sodium chlorite is marketed in two forms, as a solid characterized by approx. 80%
sodium chlorite and as an aqueous solution. Sodium chlorite is soluble in water,
insoluble in non-polar solvents, and sparingly soluble in polar solvents (Merck,
2001).
 Aqueous solutions are colourless to greenish yellow and exhibit a slight chlorine-
like odour. While the chlorite ion is stable in aqueous solution, under acidic
conditions, chlorite forms a semi-stable intermediate, chlorous acid (HClO2).
 Chlorous acid disintegrates to chlorine dioxide (ClO2), which further degrades to
chlorite (ClO2¯) and ultimately chloride (Cl¯) is formed. The extent of each of the
degradation pathways and thus the proportion of each of the oxy-chlorine species
depends in part on the pH of the solution.
 Other factors such as temperature and alkalinity of the water also affect the
composition of the oxy-chlorine constituents. At a pH in the range of 2.3-3.2,
chlorous acid (5 to 35%) is the main active ingredient produced by the reaction and
is in equilibrium with H+ and the chlorite ion (ClO2¯) (65-95%).
 NaClO2 + H+ HClO2
Microbial Activity
 Low concentrations of free available chlorine (e.g., HOCl, OCl–, and elemental
chlorine-Cl2) have a biocidal effect on mycoplasma (25 ppm) and vegetative bacteria
(<5 ppm) in seconds in the absence of an organic load
 A concentration of 100 ppm will kill ≥99.9% of B. atrophaeus spores within 5
minutes and destroy mycotic agents in <1 hour .
 One study reported that 25 different viruses were inactivated in 10 minutes with 200
ppm available chlorine. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of diluted
sodium chlorite and other disinfectants to inactivate HIV .
 Chlorine (500 ppm) showed inhibition of Candida after 30 seconds of exposure. In
experiments using the AOAC Use-Dilution Method, 100 ppm of free chlorine killed
106–107 S. aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis, and P. aeruginosa in <10 minutes . Because
household bleach contains 5.25%–6.15% sodium hypochlorite, or 52,500–61,500 ppm
available chlorine, a 1:1,000 dilution provides about 53–62 ppm available chlorine, and
a 1:10 dilution of household bleach provides about 5250–6150 ppm.
Mechanism Of Action
 The exact mechanism by which free chlorine destroys
microorganisms has not been elucidated. Inactivation by
chlorine can result from a number of factors: oxidation of
sulfhydryl enzymes and amino acids; ring chlorination of amino
acids; loss of intracellular contents; decreased uptake of
nutrients; inhibition of protein synthesis; decreased oxygen
uptake; oxidation of respiratory components; decreased
adenosine triphosphate production; breaks in DNA; and
depressed DNA synthesis . The actual microbicidal mechanism
of chlorine might involve a combination of these factors or the
effect of chlorine on critical sites.

Market Dynamics
 Growing demand for chemicals for growing healthcare
and sanitation industry in developing economies is a
major factor expected to drive revenue growth of global
sodium chlorite market over the forecast period.
 By application it is primarily and extensively used as
disinfectant, Antimicrobial agent and bleaching agents by
industries.
Chlorine Based Disinfectants
 Chlorine-based disinfectants are available in liquid form
(sodium chlorite ,hypochlorites, chlorine dioxide).Household
bleach contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (52,500 ppm).
Hypochlorite solutions of 50–2,500 ppm are used to inactivate
microbial agents.
 Chlorine dioxide is an unstable compound that is prepared by
mixing dilute solutions of chlorine and sodium chlorite but is a
stronger oxidizing agent than hypochlorite. Chlorine
compounds have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial
activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, and are fast acting.
They are some of the most widely used liquid disinfectants for
surface decontamination, and may be combined with foaming
agents that cling to equipment, walls and ceilings to prolong
contact for room and equipment disinfection..
 Chlorine compounds are considered broad spectrum, being
effective against bacteria, enveloped and non-enveloped
viruses, mycobacteria and fungi. At high concentrations,
chlorine compounds can be sporicidal. The most commonly
used agents are sodium chlorite, chlorine dioxide, sodium
hypochlorite (Chlorine Bleach) and calcium hypochlorite.
 They have characterstics efficacy distinguishing from quats
which are inactivated in the presence of some soaps or soap
residues. Their antibacterial activity is reduced in the presence
of organic material. Quaternary ammonium compounds are
effective against bacteria but only and somewhat effective
against fungi and viruses.
 In recent years, bacterial resistance to quats has been of
increasing concern, according to a report from
the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI), a division of the National Library of
Medicine (NLM) at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH).
 The material safety data sheet (MSDS) accounts for
product safety and efficacy.
Decontamination Technologies

 Washing is the major strategy for contaminated produce.

Conventional washing with well-known sanitizers such as
chlorine [e.g., sodium hypochlorite, acidified sodium
chlorite (ASC), calcium hydrochlorite, and chlorine dioxide],
peracetic acid, ozonated water, and hydrogen peroxide (Al-
Nabulsi et al., 2014; Gil et al., 2009;Van Haute et al., 2015) has
been used to inactivate pathogenic E. coli.
 Among these, chlorite is the most common sanitizing agent
for fresh produce and is widely used not only in washing water
containing organic matter (Shen, Luo, Nou, Wang, & Millner,
2013) but also the produce (Gómez-López, Lannoo, Gil, &
Allende, 2014).
Sodium Chlorite as an active ingedient in
decontamination technologies
 Sodium chlorite are becoming an active ingredient in
numerous products used in the control of bacteria, fungi, and
algal slimes. In addition, chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite
are used as material preservatives and as disinfectants. At this
time, products containing chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite
are intended for agricultural, commercial, industrial, medical
and residential use. Commercial, industrial, and medical uses
include disinfection of ventilation systems, hard surfaces (e.g.,
floors, walls, and laboratory equipment), water systems,
pulp/paper mills, and food rinses. Residential uses include
disinfection of hard surfaces (e.g., floors, bathrooms), heating
ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and treatment
of pool & spa water circulation systems. (1)
Industrial USES
 Bleaching agents
 Finishing agents
 Intermediates
 Oxidizing/reducing agents
 Plating agents and surface treating agents
 Processing aids, not otherwise listed
 Processing aids, specific to petroleum production. (2)
Disinfectants
 Chemical disinfectants are chemical substances used to
control, prevent, or destroy harmful microbes. Workers in
hospitals, health care facilities, sanitary and similar
services, etc. frequently use chemical disinfectants to
eradicate the diseases causing microbes. These
disinfectants would be effective and safe tools when
handled properly with the safety measures in place.
Hospital Grade levels
 Hospital disinfectants are EPA-registered for use in
hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and other medical
facilities, and must kill microorganisms often found in
healthcare, including S. aureus, S. enterica and P.
aerugionsa.
 Hospital disinfectants should be used on medical
equipment and on environmental surfaces as part of a
bundled infection prevention approach. Low,
intermediate, and high-level disinfectants can be used
in healthcare settings:
• Low-Level Disinfectants are EPA-registered hospital disinfectants that are
effective for vegetative bacteria, most fungi, and most viruses. Typical active
ingredients include quaternary ammonium (quats) or phenols.

• Intermediate-Level Disinfectants are EPA-registered hospital disinfectants that

are effective against TB, vegetative bacteria, fungi and viruses, and some may have
spore claims. Typical active ingredients include 70-90% alcohol, hypochlorite,
hydrogen peroxide, phenols, or some quats.

• High-Level Disinfectants fall under FDA jurisdiction. They are effective against
TB, bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and some, but not all, spores. Typical active
ingredients include glutaraldehyde, OPA, hydrogen peroxide, or peracetic
acid. These are required for instruments that come in contact with mucus
membranes (bronchoscopes, endoscopes), but do not enter sterile body tissues.
CRAs
 Chlorine-releasing agents (CRAs), the most popular sodium
chlorite solution, are widely used for the disinfection of hard
surfaces and blood spillages containing the human
immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B virus.
 "CRAs are widely used for the disinfection of hard
surfaces and blood spillages containing the HIV or
hepatitis B virus.“
 CRAs are highly active oxidising agents and destroy the
cellular activity of proteins. Hypochlorous acid, the active
moiety, has been shown to have harmful effects on bacterial
DNA through the formation of chlorinated derivatives of
nucleotide bases.
 Factors recommended by Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) when evaluating
disinfectants for your healthcare facility:
 Mode of action
 Efficacy
 Compatibility
 Cost
 Current health and safety standards
 The nature and degree of contamination
Concluding Remarks
 Chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite are active ingredients in
numerous products used in the control of bacteria, fungi, and algal
slimes. In addition, chlorine dioxide and sodium chlorite are used as
material preservatives and as disinfectants.
 Commercial, industrial, and medical uses include disinfection of
ventilation systems, hard surfaces (e.g., floors, walls, and laboratory
equipment), water systems, pulp/paper mills, and food rinses.
Residential uses include disinfection of hard surfaces (e.g., floors,
bathrooms), heating ventilating and airconditioning (HVAC) systems,
and treatment of pool & spa water circulation systems. In addition,
there is a continuous release gas product (sachet) for the home to
control odors.
 According to EPA, Sodium chlorite with as low concentration as
5000 ppm are entirely safe to be use as an ingredient in various
commercial and industrially manufactured products.
References
1.USEPA/OPPTS; Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) for Chlorine Dioxide and Sodium Chlorite (Case 4023) p.1 (Aug
ust 2006) EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0328-0022/EPA 738-R-06-007.
Available from, as of July 31, 2008:
http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home
2. https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting
3. https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/red_PC-020503_3-Aug-06.pdf
4. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/source/hsdb/733