Sodium hypochlorite (bleach)

Sodium hypochlorite is an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite and the basis of bleach. It is an oxidising agent, and its strength is expressed as active chlorine: in Instaquim products it ranges from 5 % in Lejía Hipo 5% Instaquim to 15 % in Hipoclorito 15% and Clor Active 15%. It is classified and labelled under the CLP Regulation, and each product has its technical data sheet and safety data sheet.

Its uses depend on each product and are those stated in its technical data sheet:

• Lejía Hipo 5% Instaquim: drinking-water disinfection (complies with UNE-EN 901), at 6–12 ppm of product, leaving it to act for about 30 minutes before consumption; floors and surfaces at 2–4 %; laundry bleaching at 1–5 %.
• Hipoclorito 15%: circulation cleaning of circuits and pasteurisers and sanitising of worktables, floors and walls in the food industry, at 0.8–1.6 %; bleaching in institutions; in laundries, 3–9 g per kg of dry linen.
• Clor Active 15%: disinfection of public drinking water, waste water, irrigation and fire-fighting water (UNE-EN 901), at a maximum of 3 mg/l of active chlorine.

To disinfect surfaces and equipment in the food industry, registered products are used. In the Instaquim chlorinated range these are Bacter Clor (18-20-06676-HA; UNE-EN 13697 and UNE-EN 14476) and Clor NF Pro (18-20/40-09617-HA; UNE-EN 1276, UNE-EN 13697 and UNE-EN 14476), at the dose in their data sheet with 5–15 minutes of contact.

Safety, according to the data sheets: it is not used together with other products or mixed with acids, as it releases toxic gases (chlorine). Hypochlorite at 15 % may be corrosive to metals and causes severe skin burns and eye damage: handle it with protective gloves, clothing and eye protection.

More information: bleach and chlorinated products.