What is chlorine used for?
Chlorine has a huge variety of uses. Most mothers know and appreciate chlorine as a disinfectant in the form of the liquid hypo, which is also widely used for disinfecting hospital rooms, in butcheries and abattoirs. But chlorine is much and much more...
Chlorine is used worldwide to supplies as the
ultimate defence against waterborne microbiological
infection. Modern day cholera epidemics in Peru, Africa
and other regions but also after natural catastrophes like earth
quakes or tsunamis exemplify the devastating consequences of
contaminated water and poor sanitation.
Read more about disinfection on the safe
water page
Read more information on the chlorine benefits
for public health page
Plastics
In Europe, about 1/3 of all produced chlorine is
used for the syntheses of the
plastic PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - well-know
in construction for panels, doors, window frames and flooring
materials. Chlorine also plays a role in the production
of polycarbonate for roof panels, car lamps and safety goggles
and of polyurethane for insulation materials, shoe soles,
mattresses and seat comfort fillings.
Read more information on the applications of
PVC page
Medicine and Safety
Chlorinated substances intervene in many
agrochemicals and in the manufacturing of
pharmaceuticals - either in the synthesis of active
substances or in the formula itself, for instance to make organic
compounds water soluble.
Read more information on the chlorinated substances
and Medicine page
Read more information on the chlorine
derivatives protecting our safety page
Better standard of living
Chlorine also plays a critical role in the
production of thousands of commercial products we
use in everyday life. Products relying on chlorine's unique
properties include everyday household items such
as computer hardware, MP3 music players and other electronic
devices, sports shoes, automotive parts. Read more
information on the chlorine
chemistry for a better standard of
living page
High-tech applications
But chlorine is also very important in very
high-tech applications like bullet-proof vests, ultra-pure silicon chips for solar panels and
computer chips, epoxy resins for restoring old building and
polycarbonate roofing panes for design sports stadiums.
Read more information on the
industrial
processes using chlorine page
Check out the production volumes used
on the European chlorine
applications page
See the Chlorine Tree page to have some
more chemical background on chlorine
applications.
Last update: 09/2012
