Puricare Industrial Enterprises: Chlorine bleach

Showing posts with label Chlorine bleach. Show all posts

Sunday, November 29, 2020

OXYGEN BLEACH VS. CHLORINE BLEACH - For a very long time, the only real laundry bleach on the market was chlorine bleach, popularized by industry leaders, such as Clorox. Bleach is not only used for stain removal in laundry, but to clean and sterilize objects and surfaces. Chlorine bleach is not good for every fabric and has a very harsh smell, so oxygen bleaches were developed that clean as well as chlorine bleaches in most applications, but are safer on fabrics and are less harsh. Both are effective, but one may be preferable over the other depending on the application. Chlorine beach is sodium hypochlorite, diluted with water to around a five percent concentration. Manufacturers make it by heating lye (sodium hydroxide) or quicklime (calcium hydroxide) and allowing chlorine gas to bubble up through it. They then add water to the right concentration. Chlorine bleach is highly caustic. It will eat away fabric and skin if left on for an extended period, especially at full strength and take away color. Chlorine bleach is typically diluted even further when used for stain removal or cleaning. It is an unstable product that begins to lose its effectiveness after manufacturing and becomes ineffective over time, and must be stored in a cool, dark place in a plastic container. Oxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide with some sodium and sometimes carbon added to it to form a compound that releases the hydrogen peroxide when added to water.

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Oxygen Bleach Vs. Chlorine Bleach

By Laura Bramble

For a very long time, the only real laundry bleach on the market was chlorine bleach, popularized by industry leaders, such as Clorox.

Bleach is not only used for stain removal in laundry, but to clean and sterilize objects and surfaces.

Chlorine bleach is not good for every fabric and has a very harsh smell, so oxygen bleaches were developed that clean as well as chlorine bleaches in most applications, but are safer on fabrics and are less harsh.

Both are effective, but one may be preferable over the other depending on the application.

Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine beach is sodium hypochlorite, diluted with water to around a five percent concentration.

Manufacturers make it by heating lye (sodium hydroxide) or quicklime (calcium hydroxide) and allowing chlorine gas to bubble up through it.

They then add water to the right concentration.

Chlorine bleach is highly caustic. It will eat away fabric and skin if left on for an extended period, especially at full strength and take away color.

Chlorine bleach is typically diluted even further when used for stain removal or cleaning.

It is an unstable product that begins to lose its effectiveness after manufacturing and becomes ineffective over time, and must be stored in a cool, dark place in a plastic container.

Oxygen Bleach

Oxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide with some sodium and sometimes carbon added to it to form a compound that releases the hydrogen peroxide when added to water.

Oxygen bleach is a more highly concentrated product than chlorine bleach.

Many times, it is found in powdered form, which is then added to water to activate it.

Oxygen bleach is known as “color-safe” or “all fabric” bleach, since it does not degrade most fabric or strip most color if used correctly, though you must still test colorfastness before using.

It is very stable and can be kept for over a year with no loss of effectiveness. However, it should never be stored in metal or organic containers.

Similarities

Both bleaches work by oxidizing stains and microbes, allowing them to be broken up and lifted away from fabrics and surfaces.

Both have excellent anti-microbial qualities that make them good for disinfecting laundry and surfaces, though chlorine bleach has an edge in effectiveness.

Neither is effective in cold water, and both require garments be rinsed well after use.

Benefits

Chlorine bleach does not differentiate between color molecules and stains or microbes; it lifts colors away using oxidation as well.

Even in low concentrations, it eats away at fabric, so over time, the regular use of bleach will deteriorate garments and fade their color.

Chlorine bleach is toxic to aquatic life if released straight into surface water, as in storm drain runoff from outdoor cleaning projects.

It is also harmful to the essential bacteria in septic tanks if used in anything but very small quantities.

It works best in hot water, but is also effective in warm water.

It cannot be used with other cleaners such as ammonia, as contact can released deadly chlorine gas. It is less expensive to use than oxygen bleach.

Considerations

Oxygen bleach is safe to use on nearly any fabric and to add to laundry loads for extended periods with no damage to clothing.

Oxygen bleach turns to water and oxygen when broken down, so it has no negative impact to the environment and is safe for septic systems.

It is best if used in the same step as laundry detergent, which makes it even more effective, but combining steps also saves time.

It only works well in hot water, but additives can make it effective in warm water.

https://sciencing.com/oxygen-bleach-vs-chlorine-bleach-6571838.html

You might also like:

Hair And Hydrogen Peroxide

CLICK HERE . . . to view . . .

https://puricare.blogspot.com/2018/10/hair-and-hydrogen-peroxide-chemical.html

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

CHLORINE BLEACH - Chlorine poses a significant risk to the environment, and was even used as a chemical weapon during World War I. Manufacturers who use chlorine bleach often release it into local water bodies along with other liquid industrial waste. Once it reaches the water, chlorine reacts with other minerals and elements to form a host of dangerous toxins.

Chlorine Bleach

The Effects of Chlorine Bleach on
the Environment

by EMILY BEACH

Overview

Manufacturers rely on chlorine bleach to whiten paper pulp and other materials during the production process.

Chlorine bleach also plays an important role in wastewater treatment, and is used in many household cleaning products.

Unfortunately, chlorine also poses a significant risk to the environment, and was even used as a chemical weapon during World War I.

Many countries have banned chlorine bleach or restricted its use in an effort to protect the environment and human health.

Water Pollution

Manufacturers who use chlorine bleach often release it into local water bodies along with other liquid industrial waste.

Once it reaches the water, chlorine reacts with other minerals and elements to form a host of dangerous toxins.

These toxins, including dioxins, furams and PCDDs are often referred to as "persistent organic pollutants" because they linger in the water or soil and take many years to disappear.

Greenpeace calls dioxin one of the most dangerous chemicals known to science, and warns that it can contribute to cancer, endocrine disorders and other serious health effects.

The West Virginia University Extension also links chlorine-based compounds, like dioxins, with low sperm count, testicular cancer and breast cancer due to their ability to mimic human hormones.

Impact on Wildlife Populations

According to the West Virginia University Extension, by-products from chlorine bleach pose a significant risk to local wildlife populations, and have been linked to cancer in laboratory animals.

Dioxins were responsible for the decimation of the bald eagle population during the mid-20th century, and continue to reduce the number of fish and bird species near the Great Lakes.

The World Wildlife Fund also warns that these chlorine by-products can cause mutations, sterility and even extinction in wildlife species.

One of the most significant problems with chlorine bleach is its persistence. Even low levels released into air and water supplies will accumulate over time, and may lead to long-term health concerns.

West Virginia State University Extension points to the dangers of bio-magnification.

First, microorganisms consume chlorine by-products in soil or water.

These organisms serve as food for larger species, and as you continue up the food chain, each species is subject to an increasingly higher accumulation of toxins.