250 years of improving lives with chlor-alkali chemistry
Click on http://worldchlorine.org/publications to download our stylized PDF.
To celebrate the birthday of Karl Wilhelm Scheele today 19th December, the World Chlorine Council (WCC) is sharing how chlor-alkali chemistry has been improving our lives in the 250 years since Scheele discovered chlorine in 1774. Read more below or click on http://worldchlorine.org/about/250_years.
Karl Wilhelm Scheele’s discovery of chlorine represents a significant milestone in the history of chemistry. Together with its co-products sodium/ potassium hydroxide (caustic soda/ potash) and hydrogen (collectively known as chlor-alkali), this basic chemistry is the foundation of a modern industry, shaping products and technologies that have contributed to public health, industrial growth, and sustainability.
Here is a short history of this fascinating chemistry!
18th Century
Chlorine is discovered: Karl Wilhelm Scheele discovers chlorine
- Electrolysis of salt water to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is demonstrated
- First small-scale use in bleach, soap and textiles
19th century
Large-scale alkali production processes are developed.
- New processes enable large-scale production of alkali for glass, textiles and soap and then for the chemical industry
- Further upscaling during the century for even more bleach, soaps and detergents
19th – 20th century
Chlorine plays a key role in water sanitation, revolutionizing public health through the reduction of waterborne diseases.
- Chlorine first used to treat the water supply of a city (Jersey City, USA) [1909]
- First regular treatment of swimming pool water (Brown University, Rhode Island) [1910]
- Chlorine first used to treat the water supply of a town (Maidstone, England) [1897]
20th century
Innovative applications for chlor-alkali expand.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) developed for pipes, construction materials, packaging, and even medical devices such as blood bags
- Strong synthetic fibres such as nylon and Kevlar®
- Polyurethane for insulation, coatings, and foams
- Pharmaceuticals, where chlorine is used in the production of over 85% of modern medicines such as antibiotics, painkillers and antiseptics
21st Century
Chlor-alkali is a major contributor to sustainable solutions.
- Chlor-alkali materials help make solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries
- Chlorine continues to play a vital role in water sanitation and particularly in developing regions where access to clean water is limited, to help meet global sustainable development goals
- Advances in technology enable even more recycling of PVC
- Hydrogen, one of the key products generated during the chlor-alkali process, gains importance as a clean energy carrier
The World Chlorine Council is leading the way
Who is working to make these advancements a reality? The World Chlorine Council (WCC) and its regional membership. Founded in the early 1990s by the US and Europe associations, WCC is a global chlor-alkali network bringing together six regional associations, all founded in just over 100 years.
Safety
- Holding regular global safety workshops since 2002 to promote the continuous improvement of safety practices worldwide in the production, transportation and use of chlor-alkali.
- Sharing of safety incidents and best practice guidance at every WCC meeting and in newsletters.
Communication
- Contributing to the Working Groups of Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
- Participating in UN Water Conferences in 2023 and supporting annual World Water and World Oceans Days.
- Providing resources to help communities safely use bleach to battle hepatitis A, norovirus, COVID-19, dengue fever and Monkey Pox.
- Showing the benefits of chlor-alkali with chlorine and caustic soda ‘trees’ via the worldchlorine.org website and @ChlorineWorld LinkedIn and X accounts.
Sustainability
- Communicating on how chlor-alkali helps the UN Millennium Development Goals and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Publishing a Sustainability Report since 2002.
- Participating in World Summits and UN Conferences on Sustainable Development.
Engagement
- Collaborating with global organizations such as the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), World Health Organization (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
- Supporting the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership and Minamata Conventions since 2016 to phase out mercury in chlor-alkali by 2025.
- Contributing to global guidance on Waste and High-Production Volume chemicals.
- Promoting safe clean drinking water at Water Forums in India in 2015, South Africa in 2019 and Latin America in 2023.
