What are calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets used for?

In today's world where public health safety is increasingly prioritized, the selection and application of disinfection products have become central concerns for urban management, healthcare systems, industrial production, and household health. Among numerous disinfectants, calcium hypochlorite tablets hold a significant position in the global disinfection market due to their high available chlorine content, rapid germicidal action, ease of use, and strong stability. They are currently one of the most widely used solid chlorine-based disinfectants.

As a highly efficient oxidative disinfectant capable of rapidly releasing available chlorine, calcium hypochlorite plays an irreplaceable role in drinking water treatment, swimming pool maintenance, medical facility disinfection, livestock farming, food processing, and household sanitation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of its properties, core advantages, typical applications, usage methods, and safety precautions.

1. What are calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets?

Calcium hypochlorite (chemical formula Ca(ClO)₂) is a white or light gray solid powder, granule, or tablet with strong oxidizing properties. When dissolved in water, it releases hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent bactericidal agent. Its effective chlorine content typically reaches 65%–70%, significantly higher than traditional chlorine compounds like bleaching powder or sodium hypochlorite.

Its fundamental reaction is as follows:

Ca(ClO)₂ + 2H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ + 2HOCl

The generated hypochlorous acid rapidly disrupts bacterial cell walls and inactivates viral protein shells, achieving potent bactericidal, algicidal, and deodorizing effects.

Calcium hypochlorite tablets offer: high stability and resistance to decomposition; Excellent water solubility and uniform release; Convenient for transportation and storage; Broad-spectrum high-efficiency sterilization. Consequently, they are widely used in various disinfection scenarios requiring a continuous and stable chlorine source.

2. Core Advantages of Calcium Hypochlorite Disinfection Tablets

(1) Strong Sterilization Capability and Rapid Action

Hypochlorous acid possesses extremely strong oxidizing properties, rapidly eliminating bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae with a sterilization rate as high as 99.9%.

(2) High Effective Chlorine Content

Tablet formulations achieve 65%–70% effective chlorine content, significantly surpassing bleaching powder (20%–30%) for enhanced disinfection efficiency.

(3) Convenient Tablet Form

Simply dissolve tablets in water as needed, eliminating manual mixing errors and making them ideal for emergency, outdoor, and water treatment applications.

(4) Superior Stability and Storage Ease

The solid form resists volatilization and moisture absorption, maintaining high active chlorine levels even after over one year of storage.

(5) Broad Application Scope

Suitable for: drinking water treatment, swimming pool disinfection, medical and public space sanitation, industrial wastewater treatment, livestock farming, aquaculture ponds, and household hygiene—covering nearly all sterilization needs.

3. Primary Uses of Calcium Hypochlorite Disinfection Tablets

(1) Drinking Water Disinfection and Purification

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets rank among the world's most widely used chlorine sources for drinking water treatment. They are suitable for: municipal water systems, rural centralized water supply, field-based temporary drinking water purification, disaster relief, and emergency water supply. The hypochlorous acid released efficiently eliminates microorganisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, and intestinal pathogens, making it one of the drinking water disinfectants recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In remote areas, camping, or during earthquakes and floods, adding an appropriate number of tablets quickly provides safe, purified water.

(2) Disinfection for Swimming Pools, Water Features, and Hot Springs

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets are the mainstream disinfectant in the global swimming pool industry, offering:

- Stable, sustained release of effective chlorine

- Significant algae and bacteria removal

- Minimal production of irritating odors

- Clear, transparent water without cloudiness

Suitable for: Commercial pools, school pools, hot spring water, ornamental ponds, fountains, and artificial lakes. Effectively controls algae growth, maintains stable residual chlorine levels, and keeps water transparent and clean.

(3) Comprehensive Disinfection in Public Spaces (Hospitals, Schools, Hotels, Stations, etc.)

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets solution can be used for: floors, walls, restrooms, door handles, pre-cleaning of medical equipment, disinfection of temporary waste storage areas, and air spray disinfection (under specific conditions). It offers rapid sterilization and comprehensive action, helping prevent pathogen transmission and cross-infection. It is one of the commonly used disinfectants in public health environments.

(4) Industrial circulating water, cooling towers, and wastewater treatment

Industrial circulating water systems are prone to harboring bacteria, viruses, algae, and slime.

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets can: inhibit microbial growth, reduce system corrosion, eliminate odors, and enhance water quality stability. In industrial wastewater scenarios, they can also remove pathogenic microorganisms, lower BOD levels, and reduce pollution discharge.

(5) Disinfection Applications in Livestock, Animal Husbandry, and Aquaculture

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets are widely used in agriculture and animal husbandry, such as:

- Disinfection of livestock and poultry housing: Effectively prevents diseases like avian influenza and swine fever

- Sterilization of aquaculture ponds: Reduces fish and shrimp diseases, improving survival rates

- Drinking water system disinfection: Controls bacterial growth

- Irrigation water disinfection for farmland

Its low-residue properties make it particularly suitable for disinfecting and protecting animal and aquatic environments.

(6) Food Processing Industry Disinfection

Suitable for: Food processing plant floors, walls, food transport equipment, fruit and vegetable washing (low concentration), and packaging container cleaning and disinfection. Effectively reduces bacterial contamination risks while meeting food industry hygiene standards.

(7) Household Cleaning and Daily Disinfection

Extremely versatile for home use, including: kitchen and bathroom disinfection, floor cleaning, tableware sterilization, laundry bleaching, pet item cleaning, emergency household drinking water purification, washing machine drum and drain disinfection/deodorization. Simply add the appropriate number of tablets to prepare an effective disinfectant solution.

4. Usage Methods and Precautions for Calcium Hypochlorite Disinfection Tablets

(1) Usage Concentration: 

Solution concentration typically ranges from 50mg/L to 200mg/L depending on application;

(2) Usage Methods:

- Drinking Water Disinfection: Add approximately 2–5mg of available chlorine per liter of water;

- Swimming Pools: Add 1–2g of calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets per cubic meter of water;

- Environmental surfaces: Dilute at a ratio of 1:100 to 1:500 before spraying or wiping;

(3) Precautions:

- Avoid direct contact with acids, flammable substances, or organic materials to prevent chemical reactions that may produce chlorine gas.

- Store in a cool, dry place. Dissolved disinfectant solution should be kept in a shaded area away from sunlight and heat sources to prevent accelerated decomposition from light exposure.

- Follow specified ratios: Concentration requirements vary by application; refer to instructions to avoid excessive or insufficient strength.

- Prepare and use solutions immediately; prolonged storage causes loss of available chlorine.

- Avoid mixing: Do not combine with other cleaning agents to prevent chemical reactions that reduce disinfection efficacy or generate harmful gases.

5. Safety Precautions

(1) Avoid mixing with acids to prevent chlorine gas generation.

(2) Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

(3) Wear gloves and a mask during use to prevent dust inhalation.

(4) Do not store near flammable materials, oils, or organic substances.

(5) Use prepared solutions immediately to prevent active chlorine reduction.

6. Environmental Sustainability and Future Development

With continuous advancements in modern disinfection technology, calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets products are evolving in the following directions:

(1) Higher stability formulations: Reducing decomposition rates

(2) Slow-release tablets: Suitable for swimming pools and industrial water systems

(3) Eco-friendly production processes: Minimizing chlorination byproducts

(4) Intelligent dosing equipment: Enabling automated quantitative disinfection

(5) Expansion into food-grade safety applications

Calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets will continue playing a pivotal role globally in public health, water treatment, and manufacturing sectors.

With its high bactericidal efficacy, broad applicability, ease of use, and safety, calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets has become an essential component of modern disinfection systems. From drinking water treatment to industrial wastewater management, from swimming pool disinfection to healthcare and epidemic prevention, from agricultural breeding to household cleaning—they cover nearly every scenario requiring sterilization and deodorization. Against the backdrop of heightened public health awareness and growing environmental demands, calcium hypochlorite disinfection tablets will continue to play a vital role, providing robust safeguards for the safety and health of human living environments.