Can swimming pool chlorine against corona virus be used for surface disinfection?

This morning we received the question from a pharmacy or us swimming pool chlorine against corona virus can be used to make a 1000ppm chlorine solution for surface disinfection? The directive has been passed on surfaces disinfect with a 1000ppm chlorine solution. This method of disinfection is a common disinfection method for disinfecting the quays and floor surface in public swimming pools.

Consequently, you can use swimming pool chlorine to create a 1000ppm chlorine solution. This is how you disinfect a household surface with chlorine against Corona (COVID-19) and other viruses and bacteria.

How can you disinfect a surface with chlorine against corona?

Large surfaces are disinfected with a chlorine-water solution of 1000ppm. This concentration is generally scientifically advised.

1ppm is 1mg per liter of water in other words 1000 ppm = 1g/L

You can make a 1000ppm chlorine solution with all swimming pool chlorine types:

• Chlorine Granules – Dichloroisocyanurate 56%
• By liquid chlorine (chlorine bleach) – sodium hypochlorite 13.5%
• HTH chlorine granulate – calcium hypochlorite 67%
• HTH Chlorine Pastilles 7g – calcium hypochlorite 67%

In general, a chlorine water solution is made in a watering can or in a sprayer. With this watering can or backpack sprayer, the surface is sprinkled and the chlorine solution is allowed to work to kill all bacteria and viruses.

After spraying the surface, it is recommended to let the chlorine solution take effect for about 5 minutes. Following this you can rinse the treated surface with fresh and clean tap water.

How do you make the 1000ppm chlorine solution?

To make a chlorine solution, add chlorine to a bucket or watering can of warm water. The amount of chlorine you need to add depends on the chlorine product you use to make the 1000ppm chlorine solution.

Preparation of 1000ppm chlorine solution with chlorine granulate

Chlorine granulate is a product based on 56% Dichloroisocyanurate. The chlorine granulate contains 56% active free chlorine.

1g of chlorine granulate contains 0.56g of active chlorine. To make a 1000ppm chlorine solution, you must therefore add 1.79g of chlorine granulate in 1 liter of water.

Concretely this means :

(1g/0.56) x 1g = 1.785g/L or 17.85g/10L

Solution	Weight	Volume
1000ppm	18g/10L	/
5000ppm	90g/10L	/

Calculate - example to make 1000ppm with Liquid chlorine or chlorine stabil 12.5 wt. %

Liquid chlorine is a product based on 12.5 wt.% sodium hypochlorite. The liquid chlorine is guaranteed to contain 150 grams/litre of active free chlorine.

1g of sodium hypochlorite contains 0.150g of active chlorine. So to make a 1000ppm chlorine solution you need to add 6.7g of liquid chlorine in 1L of water.

Concretely this means :

(1g/0.150) x 1g = 6.70g/L or 67g/10L

Solution	Weight	Volume
1000ppm	67g/10L	55ml/10L
5000ppm	335g/10L	275ml/10L

PS. Keep in mind that chlorine degrades over time. On the technical data sheet of the products, the manufacturer recommends a dosage of 8ml/L, which equates to 9.8g/L

The example with HTH chlorine granulate based on calcium hypochlorite

HTH chlorine powder is a product based on 67% Calcium hypochlorite. The concentration of active free chlorine is 0.67g per 1g of chlorine product.

To make a 1000ppm chlorine solution, you must therefore add 1.49g HTH chlorine granules in 1 liter of warm water.

In summary this means:

(1g/0.67) x 1g = 1.49g/L or 14.9g/10L

Solution	Weight	Volume
1000ppm	15g/10L	/
5000ppm	75g/10L	/

TIP : best use HTH CHLORINE GRANULES or HTH PASTILLES 7G, this product is used worldwide for drinking water production or before pool water disinfection. The disadvantage of, for example, liquid swimming pool chlorine against corona is that this chlorine product degrades over time. Highly diluted liquid chlorine products are commonly available on the market that have been tinted. This product is sometimes only a 10^the of the concentration of Chlorstabil

WARNING : A chlorine solution has a BLEACHING effect. So be careful with clothing, fabrics or other materials that are sensitive to fading.

READING TIP : how to disinfect a surface with chlorine?

Why do people disinfect surfaces with chlorine in public swimming pools?

In public swimming pools, the quays, changing rooms, toilets and showers are also disinfected with a chlorine solution (among other things). For this reason, tests will be carried out in the laboratory for bacteriology on the basis of the count of the total number of germs. The bacteria tested are: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and enterococci.

As a result of these bacteria present on the quay or on the floor in the other areas, the swimming pool water could be contaminated in this way. That is why the rinse water must always be drained to the sewer after disinfection.

Chlorine only has a disinfecting effect as a surface disinfection

Chlorine (or alcohol), or a chlorine solution only helps as a disinfectant for SURFACES. Consequently, sprinkling it on the skin is of no use when someone is infected with a virus or bacteria. After all, this virus or bacteria is IN the body and not ON the body. A chlorine-water solution is therefore an ideal product for disinfecting a surface, a floor or a worktop in swimming pools or, for example, in public areas or in a food processing company.

ATTENTION ! : our experience is limited to the disinfection of SWIMMING POOLS. For all advice on CORONA - COVID-19, we refer to the official website of the government: https://www.vlaio.be/nl/nieuws/coronavirus-antwoord-op-jouw-meest-gestelde-vragen

Nevertheless, the disinfecting effect of chlorine has been scientifically proven. In many official government documents it is advised to disinfect with a chlorine solution. This chlorine disinfection method was also used against Ebola and other Sars viruses. ( Source : Disinfecting homes after possible Ebola infection)

Are there other products instead of chlorine against corona?

There are several disinfectant products available commercially. Other disinfectants that can be used are 70% Alcohol or 3% Acetic Acid or 1% Glutalaldehyde.

In other words it is NOT so that ONLY CHLORINE against corona helps for surface disinfection! Cons of chlorine are e.g. the bleaching effect, the strong smell and the influencing the taste (eg when used in the food chain).

Technical and legal properties of swimming pool chlorine

All the chlorine we sell is recognized by the Ministry of Health. Nevertheless, only the HTH Chlorine is recognized as biocide class A and can therefore be used in swimming pools, food or for other disinfection applications. Nevertheless, there are of course also other biocides. This concerns SWIMMING POOL CHLORINE. In other words, there are indeed other biocides that can be used for these applications.

• CAS number: 7778-54-3
• EC number: 231-908-7
• Catalog number: 017-012-00-7
• Admission number BELGIUM : 8586B
• Admission number NETHERLANDS : 7248

SOURCES

• Flemish scientific association for youth health care : How to disinfect a surface with chlorine
• Vlaio : Coronavirus : answers to your most frequently asked questions
• Wikipedia : Sodium hypochlorite
• MSDS Sodium hypochlorite and Lozan HTH chlorine granulate.
• VLAREM II
• COVID-19
• Policy COVID-19 in home care