Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Sodium Hypochlorite

Rich_Insane - 31-10-2012 at 13:24

So I've recently found out that one of the companies I ordered sodium hypochlorite from has decided not to ship to my location due to international shipping restrictions. Now I'm on a search for some sodium hypochlorite.

Yes, I know that household bleach is sodium hypochlorite. However, the concentration I'm looking is 14-15% w/w. For my purposes, I suppose 12.5% will do, but the main problem is that I simply cannot find a source. Much less can I find a source which accepts Paypal. I've looked for the standard bleach used for hospital/pool disinfection (10-12.5% NaOCl), but I cannot find any in the amounts I need. I don't want a 5-gallon pail, I just need 1 L tops.

Is there any product (which can be purchased online) that falls under this concentration of hypochlorite? Are there any reagent suppliers who are willing to accept Paypal?

Thanks in advance everyone.

Fusionfire - 31-10-2012 at 13:28

What about buying calcium hypochlorite powder/granules for pools and adding sodium sulphate to it?

Or a brine electrolytic cell?

Rich_Insane - 31-10-2012 at 20:34

I can't really afford to buy too many other reagents for the sole purpose of producing NaOCl. I intend to use the hypochlorite for a reaction which is moderately sensitive to contaminants (NaOH is OK). I found one company which sells 2.5 gallon carboys of 10-12.5% NaOCl. Unfortunately, it looks like they only sell to companies, so I doubt they accept Paypal.


Doc B - 1-11-2012 at 00:58

Can you just use the CaOCl in the reaction as its usually the -OCl that's reactive?

FarronFolbright - 1-11-2012 at 05:50

Why not just evaporate the water from bleach until you get the concentration you want?

Rich_Insane - 1-11-2012 at 10:16


Quote:

Why not just evaporate the water from bleach until you get the concentration you want?



Do you think that will work? I'm willing to try it out.

simba - 2-11-2012 at 06:38

Whats so wrong with 5 gallons pails? When I needed to buy some 10-12.5% sodium hypochlorite I didn't find it in 1L bottles aswell, but who cares, if you truly need it, buy 5 gallon ones instead.

ScienceSquirrel - 2-11-2012 at 06:56

No it will not work.
It will decompose to either chlorate and chloride or chloride and oxygen depending on temperature.

Rich_Insane - 2-11-2012 at 11:17


Quote:

Whats so wrong with 5 gallons pails? When I needed to buy some 10-12.5% sodium hypochlorite I didn't find it in 1L bottles aswell, but who cares, if you truly need it, buy 5 gallon ones instead.



I don't have the money to buy large pails, which go for $50-80 online.

I need 500 ml to 1 L. That's all I can afford. I've got like $25-30 left in my budget and I cannot get it out of Paypal.

I thought there would be some decomposition. A real bummer.

[Edited on 2-11-2012 by Rich_Insane]

Pyro - 4-11-2012 at 11:56

sodium hypochlorite is cheap as can be! over here it's about 3$ for 5l 18%. you should be able to get it from a pool supply store, a DIY store, even some paint stores have it.
you can evaporate it, just don't heat it too much. you could keep it in the shed in the sun, or on a radiator in a well ventilated room,...

Hexavalent - 4-11-2012 at 12:07

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sodium-Hypochlorite-15-Liquid-Chlo...

Rich_Insane - 4-11-2012 at 13:57

I tried ordering from one of those eBay sources (different vendor), but they cancelled my order stating that they cannot ship to the USA from UK.

Does anyone know some brands of swimming pool disinfectant which contain that concentration of NaOCl sold in the USA? I've checked out a few pool supply websites, but I can only find Ca(OCl)2 and Trichlor (TCCA).

mycotheologist - 14-11-2012 at 14:21

If I needed NaClO, I'd just bubble some Cl2 through NaOH(aq). As a Cl2 source, I'd use Ca(ClO)2 + HCl.

tetrahedron - 14-11-2012 at 14:27

Quote: Originally posted by mycotheologist  
If I needed NaClO, I'd just bubble some Cl2 through NaOH(aq).

what's the max concentration obtainable by this route?

mycotheologist - 14-11-2012 at 15:49

Not sure but I believe it used to be the main industrial method for producing NaClO so I believe the max concentration should be the maximum stable concentration.

Rich_Insane - 15-11-2012 at 22:12

I do have NaOH (approximately 400 grams) and HCl on the way, but I fear this is not enough to pursue a sizable synthesis of NaOCl. I can afford to purchase a pound of Ca(OCl)2, but my budget does not allow the purchase of more NaOH or HCl. For this reason, I'd rather purchase NaOCl directly.

mycotheologist - 16-11-2012 at 04:23

If there are any farm suppliers near you, they sell NaClO solution for cleaning cow pastures.

Rich_Insane - 19-11-2012 at 10:21

I have not seen anything around. There are farm supply stores around here, but I'd rather purchase it using Paypal, where the remainder of my budget is locked up.

I'm offering $25.90 (what I have left) for NaOCl for concentration 10% or above. Payment through paypal.

U2U me if this is possible.

Vargouille - 19-11-2012 at 13:34

Down here in Florida, there's a pool place called "Pinch-A-Penny" that sells "Liquid Chlorine" in 2.5 gallon jugs. It's about 10.45% NaOCl. I don't remember how much it costs, but I don't remember it being especially expensive. A shop called "The Pool and Spa House", which has a store in Portland, should have something similar. Just look around for pool stores.