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Product Information
LiquiBrom®3800 – LiquiBrom 4000 – LiquiBrom 4300 – LiquiBrom 4600
Cost Effective Bromine Source for Microbiological Control in Industrial Water Treatment
Description and Use
LiquiBrom products are ready to use solutions of sodium
bromide. When mixed in water and activated by a
chlorine source, (such as gaseous chlorine or sodium
hypochlorite), LiquiBrom products provide a cost-effective
way to treat industrial cooling waters for microbiological
control using bromine chemistry.
LiquiBrom 3800:
Pounds of LiquiBrom 3800 required = (pounds Cl2) x 3.81
Grams of LiquiBrom 3800 required = (grams Cl2) x 3.81
In practice, a wide range of factors can impact the efficacy
of biocide treatments, including condition of the make-up
water, system halogen demand, treatment objectives,
sensitive equipment and sample point locations, hence a
wide range of sodium bromide to oxidant mole ratios are
indicated on the LiquiBrom label use directions, allowing
users to design treatment programs to fit specific
applications.
LiquiBrom 4300:
Pounds of LiquiBrom 4300 required = (pounds Cl2) x 3.37
Grams of LiquiBrom 4300 required = (grams Cl2) x 3.37
LiquiBrom sodium bromide solutions are available in 4
concentrations
• Ready to use formulations - prepared for your needs
and specifications
• Excellent activity in alkaline water – LiquiBrom provides
a higher percent active biocide at higher pH than chlorine
based oxidizing biocides
Concentrations available are:
LiquiBrom 3800 - 38%
LiquiBrom 4000 - 40%
LiquiBrom 4300 - 43%
LiquiBrom 4600 - 46%
Application Recommendations
Use LiquiBrom products with a properly registered
chlorine source. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
proper handling and safety practices.
LiquiBrom must be mixed with a concentrated aqueous
solution of sodium hypochlorite or chlorine gas. Usually a
1:1 sodium bromide to oxidant mole ratio is recommended
for the best cost-benefit results. To achieve the optimum
molar ratio, LiquiBrom products should be dosed as
follows:
LiquiBrom 4000:
Pounds of LiquiBrom 4000 required = (pounds Cl2) x 3.62
Grams of LiquiBrom 4000 required = (grams Cl2) x 3.62
LiquiBrom 4600:
Pounds of LiquiBrom 4600 required = (pounds Cl2) x 3.15
Grams of LiquiBrom 4600 required = (grams Cl2) x 3.15
The LiquiBrom dose can be reduced by 50 - 80 %
depending on water conditions and system demand. It is
recommended that the initial LiquiBrom dose be reduced
by 50 %. Then the feed rates can be fine tuned to achieve
maximum cost performance.
LiquiBrom products are effective over a pH range of 6.5 9.2.
The halogen residual (measured as mg/l Cl2) maintained
in a treated system depends on the treatment objectives
and the site NPDES permit requirements. Successful
recirculating and once-through cooling water treatment
programs have maintained a 0.4 - 1.3 halogen residual
(measured as mg/l Cl2) for at least 4 hours.
Example Dosing Systems
There are many different addition combinations that will
accomplish adequate activation of LiquiBrom. Two
examples of suitable LiquiBrom dosing systems are
shown below. Example1 shows a retention chamber.
This type of dosing scheme will provide approximately 10
seconds of contact time prior to final dilution in the system
to be treated, although this is not a required piece of the
system. Example 2 shows a dosing scheme without a
retention chamber.
Feed
timer
To system
60
First crystal to appear
50
Last crystal detected
NaOCl
solution
or Cl2
source
LiquiBrom
solution
Temperature oF
Residence
time
chamber
30
- 3.4
20
- 13.4
10
Temperature oC
6.6
40
0
-10
3800
4000
4300
4600
- 23.4
-20
- 33.4
-30
LiquiBrom product
Control
Con
trol valve
Static mixer
Static mixer
Example 1: LiquiBrom (Activated Bromide) Dosing System
Feed
timer
LiquiBrom
solution
NaOCl
solution
or Cl2
source
Water to be
treated
Figure 1: LiquiBrom Crystallisation Temperatures
General Properties
Active Total Br
–
NaBr
ppm
%
LiquiBrom
3800
LiquiBrom
4000
LiquiBrom
4300
LiquiBrom
4600
38
295,000
40
311,000
43
334,000
46
357,000
pH
SG
6.57.5
6.57.5
6.57.5
6.57.5
1.36–
1.40
1.40–
1.42
1.44–
1.46
1.49–
1.51
Freeze
point (1st
crystal
detected)
-18oF
-28oC
-26oF
-32oC
6.3oF
-14.3oC
43oF
6 oC
LiquiBrom Frequently Asked Questions
The "bromide" portion of the LiquiBrom is designed to be
activated to Br+ (HOBr or OBr -) by either chlorine gas
(Cl2) or bleach (NaOCl). In most cases bleach is used
and this method of activation is addressed in this section.
Control valve
Static mixer
Static mixer
A simplified description of this reaction:
Example 2: LiquiBrom (Activated Bromide) Dosing System
LiquiBrom Crystallisation
When selecting a specific registered LiquibBrom solution it
is important to know the crystallisation temperature to
avoid fouling of pumps and pipe work etc. As several
LiquiBrom solution strengths are available, the water
treater can tailor the product to meet the end user needs.
The graph below ( Figure 1) shows the different
crystallisation temperatures for the solution concentrations
available.
Br - (from NaBr) + Cl+ (from NaOCl or Cl2)
–> Cl - + Br+ (as HOBr or OBr-)
Following are some of the most commonly ask questions
concerning the activation of LiquiBrom with NaOCl:
Can I add NaBr and bleach in the neat forms, either in a
storage tank for later dosing or in a mixing chamber on the
way into the system and then dose the mixture to the bulk
water?
This is not recommended. The high pH of the bleach
changes the reaction pathways and leads to inefficient
activation of the NaBr and a waste of the Br - ion.
Can I add NaBr to the bulk water and then add bleach to
the bulk water?
This is also not recommended because in dilute solutions
there is a slow activation of NaBr and this will not give the
full benefit of bromine chemistry. Also in alkaline
treatment programs the Cl+ will be in the inactive OCl form which is an extremely poor activator of the Br - ion.
If I can’t activate NaBr like this, then what is the best way
to activate NaBr?
LiquiBrom should be diluted into make up water and down
stream of this, the bleach should be added in the ratios
recommended on the LiquiBrom label. Calibrate the
dilution so that the mixed and diluted material entering the
bulk water has a total halogen level of 1000 - 2000 ppm as
Cl2. This method of activation serves two purposes:
1. This dilutes the material to a concentration where
complete activation of the bromide (Br -) can occur.
Thermodynamic calculations show that the maximum
concentration of bromide that can be activated by bleach
is approximately 2500 ppm as Cl2. Therefore, any attempt
to activate a higher concentration than this leads to a
waste of bromide because much of it will not be activated.
2. This lowers the pH of the mixture to near neutral. The
pH of the bleach is very alkaline (10-12.5). At these high
pH’s, the Cl+ (which activates the bromide) exists mostly
as OCl -. OCl – is a very slow activator of bromide, so
again, much of the bromide will be wasted. At the lower
pH’s (nearer neutral) the Cl+ exists as HOCl. HOCl is a
fast activator of bromide, so the bromide will be fully
utilized as Br+.
To get full value from the LiquiBrom family of products
BioLab Water Additives strongly recommends that you
activate these products as described above.
Handling and Storage
LiquiBrom must be handled and dosed within the limits
ofthe label instructions. Avoid contact with eyes and skin.
Irritation may develop from eye and skin exposure. Wear
gloves, long sleeve shirts, long pants, and safety goggles.
Wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
Storage and transportation vessels should be made of
corrosion resistant materials. Stainless steel,
polyethylene, FRP, or epoxy coated mild steel are
recommended. Schedule 80 PVC or PVDF plastic piping
is recommended for transfer lines. Pumps should be
manufactured with corrosion resistant plastic heads.
Static mixers can be obtained in either PVC or PVDF
plastic.
Safety Precautions
Before handling LiquiBrom products, all persons must be
thoroughly aware of the hazardous properties and have
reviewed a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). An
MSDS may be obtained from BioLab Water Additives.
Patents
Chemtura Corporation (CC) owns or is the licensee of patents and
patent applications, which may cover the products and/or uses
described in this brochure.
The following are trademarks of CC
LiquiBrom, BioLab Water Additives logo
® Registered US Patent and Trademark Office
© 2005 CC
All rights reserved
August 2005
BioLab Water Additives
A Chemtura Company
European Region
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Manchester M17 1WT
United Kingdom
Telephone + 44 161 875 3875
Fax + 44 161 875 3175
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PO Box 300002
Lawrenceville
GA 30049-1002
USA
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Or 800 600 4523
Fax + 1 678 502 4724
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A Chemtura Company
Middle East Region
PO Box 24647
Dubai
UAE
Telephone + 9714 333 6887
Fax + 9714 333 7138
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A Chemtura Company
Asia Pacific Region
65 Chulia Street
#37-05/06 Ocbc Centre
Singapore 049513
Telephone + 65 6232 8660
Fax + 65 6557 0057
Visit our website at: www.wateradditives.com
The information contained in this product sheet is based on data available to CC, BioLab Water Additives and is thought to be correct. Since CC,
has no control over the use of this information by others, CC does not guarantee the same results described herein will be obtained, and makes no warranty of
merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or any express or implied warranty. This information is intended for use by technically trained personnel at their
discretion and risk. Rev. 3/00