Trichloroisocyanuric Acid for Purificaion of Drinking Water

Dear colleagues,

Some actors in Latinoamerica are interested in using Trichloroisocyanuric acid for disinfecting drinking water. So far this acid has been used in swimming pools but I have not find anything about drinking water purification.

Has some of you worked with Trichloroisocyanuric acid and knows which kind of effects could it have on water quality?

Could this technology be implemented without any damage to human health? Thank you very much in advance for your time and collaboration!

Kind regards,

Evelyn

Taxonomy

• Drinking Water Security
• Chemical Treatment
• Drinking Water Treatment
• Drinking Water Managment
• Drinking Water

10 Answers

1. The problems associated with the use of Trichloroisocyanuric acid derive from the fact that in isocyanuric acid is released in aqueous solution. In addition, hypochlorous acid reacts with ammonia to form chloroamines, believed by many to be dangerous for human health.

2. According to the appointment of MR. Juan José Salas Rodríguez:

   "In Spain, Order SAS / 1915/2009, of July 8, on substances for the treatment of water intended for the production of water for human consumption www.boe.es/boe/dias/2009/07/17/pdfs/ BOE-A-2009-11876.pdf, in Part B. Biocides. B1 Active substances included in the type "disinfectant for drinking water, both for humans and animals", includes the following compounds related to chlorine:

   • Chlorine

   • Chlorine dioxide

   • Calcium hypochlorite

   • Sodium hypochlorite

   • Trichloroisocyanuric acid

   • Dichloroisocyanurate sodium, anhydrous

   • Dichloroisocyanurate sodium, dihydrate

    

   However, for the last three products (including trichloroisocyanuric acid, or trichloro), the conditions of use specify:

   • Previous biocides (Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide, Calcium hypochlorite, Sodium hypochlorite) will always be used as the first option. When they are not available, they may be used, with prior authorization for use by the competent health authority

   • Temporary use, never more than 50 days per year, while it is not possible to use previous disinfectants (Chlorine, Chlorine dioxide, Calcium hypochlorite, Sodium hypochlorite).

   It is clear, then, that at least in Spanish legislation, the use of trichlor in the disinfection of drinking water is restricted, recommending the use of other chlorine compounds (chlorine, chlorine dioxide, calcium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite)"

3. NSF Std 60 certification deals with the quality of the TCCA drinking water grade commercial product, not the efficacy or safety. That is the province of the WHO Guideline which is 50 mg/L as the sodium salt and 40 mg/L as the chloroacid.

4. Below is a posting by Mr. M. Currie of Aqueum on the use of trichlorocyanoric acid (https://knowledgepoint.org/en/question/4232/trichloroisocyanuric-acid-tcca-for-drinking-water-chlorination/):

   Trichloroisocyanuric Acid products by Allchem, Clearon, GE, Medentech, Occidental and Shikoku appear to be listed as NSF certified drinking water chemicals under NSF/ANSI 60 (http://bit.ly/NSF-TCCA).

   That of course doesn't say much about "Clean Pool 90". I personally wouldn't use any proprietary chemical that wasn't specifically intended for drinking water treatment & certified by a competent and relevant authority as such. Even if pure TCCA is an acceptable disinfectant, you need to ask what fillers, stabilisers and other chemicals are included in "Clean Pool 90". There is also a possibility that their TCCA production process could result in inappropriate byproducts. The formulation for a chemical intended for pool water use is likely to be much less stringent than for one intended for direct human consumption.

   I think the certification of these other TCCA's under NSF/ANSI 60, and the size of your potential market hopefully will give the manufacturers of "Clean Pool 90" or other TCCA's available to you sufficient motivation to go for some form of potable water certification if they do believe their product is wholesome.

5. Bob and Gino seem to have the right idea. You can use anything that will not continue killing post disinfection process. The leading technology in this area is called Bioremediation.  Biodegrades all organic compounds into their elemental state. 40 years of use and monthly test has yielded ZERO pathogens and ZERO toxic substances.  It is of course potable at this stage. How you use the recycled potable water is entirely up to you.

6. No it is not approve for drinking water because of the chemicals stabilizers . 

7. http://info.nsf.org/Certified/PwsChemicals/Listings.asp?ChemicalName=Trichloroisocyanuric%20Acid&

    

   The chemical is listed in NSF 60 for use in drinking water in the US; the above link shows the several certified manufacturing facilities. The ANSI/NSF certification process includes rigorous testing as well as production process monitoring. In the US, chemicals having the NSF 60 designation can be used in drinking water and materials having NSF 61 can be used for contact with drinking water. 

   There are purpose-made chemical feeders for the product. Please be aware that NaOCl has a fairly short shelf life and if on-site generation cannot be accomplished, a calcium hypochlorite or trichloroisocyanuric might be a more appropriate choice for a remote location. Disinfection using ozone or ultraviolet light are other choices, along with chlorine dioxide... nothing is perfect !

    

    

    

    

    

8. Why do they want to use chlorocyanurates instead of sodium hypochlorite?  WHO has a guideline but it would be most useful for spot treatments in emergencies or in some remote areas where hypochlorite is not readily available. Of course you can also make some hypochlorite on site with some salt and  a bicycle driven generator with an electrolysis unit. 

   Chlorocyanurates are convenient and stable, but  expensive compared to chlorine bleach and difficult to apply since they are solids.  They are good in pools because they are slow release and less susceptible to solar reactions. You should also understand that there are multimilligram amounts of the cyanuric acid residues in the drinking water. 

   Hydrogen peroxide is not very potent compared to chlorine and slow acting and more expensive. Also, not proven as a broad spectrum biocide in drinking water.

9. Good Afternoon Ms. Lopera;

    

   Trichloroisocyanuric acid is not meant for potable water treatment. 

   [ The compound is a disinfectant, algicide and bactericide mainly for swimming pools and dyestuffs, and is also used as a bleaching agent in the textile industry. It is widely used in civil sanitation for pools and spas, preventing and curing diseases in animal husbandry and fisheries, fruit and vegetable preservation, wastewater treatment, as an algicide for recycled water in industry and air conditioning, in anti shrink treatment for woolens, for treating seeds and in organic chemical synthesis.

   Trichloroisocyanuric acid as used in swimming pools is easier to handle than chlorine gas. It dissolves slowly in water, but as it reacts, cyanuric acidconcentration in the pool will build-up. From Wikipedia

   http://msds.orica.com/pdf/shess-en-cds-010-000031021401.pdf ]

   Having traveled to Latin America and Caribbean for many years, I've witnessed hotel maintenance also pouring pool chlorine into potable cisterns.  Pool chlorine contains toxic stabilizers and also not for potable treatment.

   Warmest regards,

   FOR THE BEST TASTE IN LIFE

   40  Years Pure Excellence

   ...into another Half Century re-inventing the water industry !

   Think Aquathin...AquathinK !

   ( visit the all new www.aquathin.com )

    

   ** AN ISO9001:2000, ISO9001:2008 , ISO9001:2015  QMS REGISTERED / CERTIFIED COMPANY - (IMS 0192, NQA 12635) **

   & 2008 PRESIDENT'S E STAR AWARD RECIPIENT ( visit www.aquathin.com/estar2008.pps  )

    

           Alfie

   Alfred J. Lipshultz

   President & CEO

   Aquathin Business Center  /  950 South Andrews Avenue / Pompano Beach, FL  33069

   T 954 781 7777 / F 954 781 7336 /E info@aquathin.com  / Skype aquathinhq.alfie

10. dear, why taking the chance on using a product that is so complicated? If you use EcoClearProx, you use a 100% biodegradable hydrogen peroxide, without any toxic byproduct or danger. A proven solution, 100% safe and effective