SHOULD YOU USE CHLORINE IN LIQUID, SOLID OR GAS FORM, WHEN TREATING WATER ??

Application Bulletin
Bulletin 3001
Cost Comparison
Chlorine Gas vs. Hypochlorite
Cost per pound of AVAILABLE CHLORINE:
Gas Chlorine - is 100% pure, elemental chlorine which maintains its strength indefinitely.
Average cost per pound is $0.45‡. Since it is pure chlorine, the cost per pound of AVAILABLE CHLORINE = $0.45/lb.
Powder Chlorine (Calcium Hypochlorite) - contains a maximum of 70% available chlorine.
Strength is rapidly lost in storage. Average cost per pound of powder chlorine is $1.23‡. Therefore, the cost per
pound of AVAILABLE CHLORINE = $1.76/lb.
Liquid Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) - contains approximately 10% † available chlorine.
Strength is rapidly lost in storage. Average cost per gallon is $1.29‡. One gallon weighs approximately 9 lbs. The
cost of 1 lb. of bleach is calculated at $1.29 / 9 = $0.143. At 10% strength the average cost per pound of
AVAILABLE CHLORINE is determined as $0.143 X 10 lbs. bleach = $1.43/lb
‡ Costs are average quotes from suppliers in Ft. Pierce, Florida metropolitan area, Nov. 1993. Costs may vary in
your area, but the relative differences in costs of the three types of chlorine tend to remain consistant.
† (Note: Most manufacturers of Sodium Hypochlorite will only guarantee a 10% chlorine strength in 16% solution,
due to loss of strength in shipment and storage.)

A study was carried on the use of these three alternatives on a base usage from 1 Lb to 100 Lb each day, between 100 and 350 days. The results for all of them showed that liquid bleach is the most expensive alternative, followed by the powder and having the gas as the much lower cost between them. However the use and dosage of gas can be very delicate and dangerous.