Hello everyone!

I am new to this board so please bare with me. I have done a search but could not find the information I am looking for. Hopefully some of the participants can help.

A customer told me that chlorine dioxide water purification kits are proving to less than reliable and/or healthy. Does anyone have any definitive information on this or even internet links.

Thank You
Brian Kroon
Drop Zone

I don't have a website, but I do have a book that deals with water purification. Becoming Self-Reliant by Ken Larson.Check out chapter one.

The clorine Dioxide tablets rattles my brain, though. Do they really exist? I don't think there is a clorine dioxide, but it could be. I just finished chemistry class, so don't tell my teacher! But I will check on that though.

Hell Ruzz I don't know if it exists, but the manufacturer claims it does. www.pristine.ca All I know is a couple of customers are concerned and I want to clear the waters <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Perhaps your expertise can help solve the mystery.

Kind Regards
Brian
Drop Zone
www.dropzonetactical.com

Brian,

See: http://www.equipped.org/shot_show_2003_gear.htm about halfway down the page under Katadyn's entry.

Should answer most of your questions.

Thank you Mr. Ritter! ETS comes through again. I 'll keep looking on this subject and share what I find with the crew.

Kind regards
Brian Kroon
www.dropzonetactical.com

I checked my Reference tables and I was right, chemicly, chlorine dioxide is impossible. You see, oxygen has an oxidation charge of -2. Meaning that when it reacts with things, it gains 2 electrons, which have a charge of -1. Clorine has oxidation charges of -1 +1 +3 +5 and a few more. Ok, so for it to bond with 2 oxygen molecules, it would have to have a potential charge of +4 (lose 4 electrons, and thus have a positive charge). But it doesnt. I hope I haven't lost you. It could, however be called di cloro oxide tablets, as that could work. I wonder what the oxegen would be for, as the halogens (florine, clorine, bromine, iodine) are all capable of taking out bacteria by themselves. I'm not a bio chemist though, so there could be a good reason. Also, companies usually take advantage of people ignorance on these subjects and use big names and add unneccisary stuff (ASPRIN!!!) without worry. Or they might be able to market it better.

Scientific jargon aside, 5 drops of fresh (halogens and hydrogen peroxide lose their strength over time) would bne plenty, maybe overkill, to take out most bacteria. Boil and filter it also, if possible. I shall continue research! <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Chlorine Dioxide does exist--at least as a semistable gas. It is used to destroy biologic contamination in the medical field (allows for sanitation of objects that can't take the heat of autoclave) as well as being able to clean up "spaces". The most recent public use was on the senate office building when the anthrax was released in there. They literally filled the building with the stuff. Kinda like a giant bug bomb. The gas fairly quickly decomposes into more stable (and safer) chemicals which disappate. So there is no residue other than some water vapor (this makes it pretty handy stuff).

I know Aqua Mira is using the technology, and I don't have any experience with ClO2 in liquids--but I know for sure it kills Anthrax spores (which isn't easy).

Chlorine dioxide is quite possible. Ox with -2 Cl with +3 == unstable CL-O2 ion with neg1 charge. Ions are common. a -1 ion would be soluable in water without a supporting +1 ion to make the salt since water is ionic all by itself. Check with your Chem prof and perhaps a more advanced book.

BTW this is inorganic chem not bio or organic. No carbon here.

http://forums.backpacker.com/viewMessage.jsp?message=194357&thread=21715&forum=4

Here's a link with someone who contracted Giardia while using Aqua Mira.

Yeah, I did some additional research and found that it did exist and wrote a nice, long , witty post but some bufoon kicked me off the internet before I could post it, and I was too peeved to re-write it. The telemarketers deprive the literary world of another work of art.....