Bromine

Americans started using bromine as disinfectants for swimming pool in the year 1936. Its widespread use was triggered when World War II caused scarcity in chlorine. Chlorine is a favorite among housewives and resort owners because of efficiency and market availability. Although chlorine remains to be the top choice for household and institutions as swimming pool sanitizer, bromine has become a workable option for a number of reasons. Yet with this, only a small chunk of pool owners use bromine and regarded it as “the other” pool disinfectant.

The element bromine is one of the five nonmetallic elements found in the periodic table, often referred to as halogen. In its basic form, it is liquid and red-brown in color. Bromine is volatile in standard room temperatures, which means that the element evaporates easily. Its corrosive property produces rusts when in contact with iron. And bromine on skin causes irritation. The element is also foul and stinging in smell as its etymology suggests. Its name, which comes from the Greek “bromos”, means smell. Its ultimate effect is detrimental to the environment. So how does a chemical element, which is highly corrosive, caustic and smelly, becomes a disinfectant?

The very first application of bromine is far from its present status. Romans use bromine-producing snails and scrub them onto their robes to produce the color purple. This tedious task makes purple the most expensive color in the world and thus claimed the title – “the royal color”. Today it is most famous in water treatment and swimming pool disinfection. To make it effective in cleaning water, manufacturers must produce bromine compounds.

Chlorine and bromine share special traits that kill harmful pollutants when dissolved in water. However, both chemicals react differently especially in a swimming pool. In warmer places, bromine is stable which suggests that it is more effective. It is also advantageous for swimmers who have sensitive skins. Its smelly characteristic is no longer intense in a bromine disinfectant but it is much difficult for someone to wash away the smell from the skin after bathing in bromine treated pool. It also is helpful in preventing the growth of algae, bacteria and odor.

Bromine was also proven by studies to be less expensive than chlorine sanitizers. When it fuses with bacteria to kill it only parts of the chemical is consumed and burnt off along with the bacteria. The remaining bromine can still do its job and repeat the whole process of fusing with and killing bacteria. Much of the chlorine however is used up when it combines with bacteria to disinfect it.

Health reason and cost effectiveness have pushed manufacturers of bromine disinfectants to upgrade its packaging. Widely available in markets are bromine tablets, which are easy to dissolve along with a chemical feeder. The tablet form also lengthens the shelf life of the chemical disinfectant and reduces risk of health problems since bromine is more harmful in liquid form.

Unlike chlorine, bromine is produced without the need of perilous gases. It is active in water in a shorter time so it speeds up disinfection. Allowing home and business owners of swimming pools to gain access of pools shortly after treatment. There is also a significant drop of by-products or residues as after effects of bromine. And there is no need to purchase a separate substance to remove bromine in water.

Despite its claim of being cost effective research have shown lately that in order for bromine to maintain efficiency in killing bacteria, a considerable volume of the compound is applied into swimming pools. Most pool owners have found this more costly than chlorine. Furthermore, high concentration of the chemical using a bromine tester will cause eye and mucous membrane irritation and odor trouble.

For as long as there are swimming pools, there will always be swimming pool disinfectants. Reasons why people use bromine, chlorine or any other chemicals vary from cost, effectiveness and health considerations. Recent reports revealed that bromine are more carcinogenic than chlorine. This had tagged bromine to be the alternative disinfectant.