The pulp and paper industry primarily uses Chlorine Dioxide for bleaching purposes. Bleaching agents are used to break lignin down to smaller oxygen containing molecules. Since the 1990s, the industry steadily switched from Chlorine to Chlorine Dioxide, commonly referred to as Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF), bleaching methods. The primary reason for changing chemicals was to prevent the production and release of Dioxins and other chlorinated organic compounds from being released into the environment.
Dioxins are carcinogenic and highly toxic causing various human health effects including reproductive, developmental, immune and hormonal problems. By 2005, Chlorine Dioxide represented 99% of the US bleached chemical pulp market and 85% of the world share market or nearly 70 million tons per year. CWC’s Chlorine Dioxide generators use a 2-chemical reagent system to produce stable concentrated solutions of Chlorine Dioxide which can be implemented into your bleaching process. The 2-chemical reagent design allows for optimized chemical use to minimize your process expenses.
