Abstract

Sodium chlorate is the primary raw material for the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, a bleaching agent in the pulp and paper industry. Chlorine dioxide substitutes for chlorine in pulp bleaching, most ore of the sodium chlorate produced is used in the bleaching process. Sodium chlorate is prepared electrolytically. The modern technology described minimizes sodium chloride and sodium dichromate impurities. Chlorates are powerful oxidizers, and they are also used in perchloric salt and uranium production. They are strong irritants.

Chloric acid technologies have been developed which allow the generation of chlorine dioxide directly from the acid, without the formation of sodium salts in the generator.