Sodium Hypochlorite Chemical Production

Sodium hypochlorite is the active constituent in chlorine bleach. It is an excellent disinfecting agent that is employed in water treatment, cleaning and laundry operations. Transport and handling safety concerns have direct public opinion towards the use of sodium hypochlorite rather than chlorine gas in water treatment, which represents a significant market expansion potential. In this report, it is reviewed the industrial bleach production through the chlorination of caustic soda by chlorine gas in packed columns. Included in the analysis is an overview of the technology and economics of a widely used process, similar to the employed by Solvay Chemicals. Both the capital investment and the operating costs for plants erected on the US Gulf Coast, Germany and Brazil are presented.

About the Publication Program

The Technology Economics Program is a program that provides, by way of periodic reports, in-depth techno-economic assessments covering mature process technologies used by the chemical, polymer, refining and allied industries. Each report presents the following topics:

• process flow diagrams and description
• heat and material balances
• major equipment list
• equipment cost estimates
• bulk material and installation costs
• inside and outside battery limits capital costs
• process yields, raw material and utility consumptions
• fixed costs contributions
• process profitability by location