Powdered Bleach - Will it work?

[chem geek]

There is a somewhat pure sodium hypochlorite solid form but it is not commercially used and I can't find a source for it. However, this isn't what someone talks about when they are talking about "powdered bleach". Powdered bleach is made from hydrogen peroxide so is an oxygen-based oxidizer. Clorox 2 powder, for example, is made by combining sodium tetraborate (yes, that's Borax) with hydrogen peroxide to produce the active ingredient sodium perborate monohydrate (most of Clorox 2 is Sodium Carbonate which is Soda Ash). This is still an oxygen-based bleaching substance.

So, bottom line, powdered bleach doesn't provide chlorine. It is similar to adding hydrogen peroxide to your pool. It is a disinfectent, but though it has a higher oxidation potential than chlorine, it doesn't last as long, etc. (peroxides are very unstable, which makes them good for disinfection, but bad for hanging around). Typically, peroxide can be used for disinfection of a specific water flow, similar to ozone or UV light, but not for the bulk pool water. So, no, you can't use oxygen-based powdered bleach as a substitute for chlorine-based liquid bleach.

Richard