Tired of trying to store lightning in a bottle (pool shock)? Try NaDCC/sodium troclosene

[Grizzleyette___Adams]

Tired of trying to store lightning in a bottle (pool shock)? Try a widely approved alternative: NaDCC/sodium troclosene.

Because bleach has a six-month shelf life for disinfecting water, many people have resorted to including calcium hypochlorite (also known as “pool shock”) in their long term storage plans.

Unicef.org states that for water disinfection purposes sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) has a recommended life of only 6 months after opening, even in a tightly closed opaque bottle. Decomposition also produces undesirable by-products (chlorite or chlorate ions). https://www.unicef.org/cholera/Annexes/Supporting_Resources/Annex_9/Clasen-NaDCC2.pdf

Pool shock (calcium hypochlorite) has long been a mainstay as a longer-term alternative to bleach for disinfecting water. Unfortunately, as one friend put it, “Trying to store calcium hypochlorite is like trying to keep lightning in a bottle.” The stuff is notoriously difficult to store without eventually outgassing until it becomes too weak to be reliable for disinfecting water. Many of us know how frustrating it is to store because it is well-known for destroying the container it is stored in.

If it were not for those pesky problems, calcium hypochlorite (commonly sold as “pool shock”) would be a great disaster prep item because you can make a concentrated “stock solution” with it to treat a huge amount of water.

Another water disinfection chemical, chlorine dioxide, is also good but it is a bit expensive. Iodine and potassium permanganate will disinfect water, but they are not ideal for long-term ingestion. Boiling, of course, is ideal but if fuel is in short supply or if circumstances call for low-key OPSEC...then what?

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC), also called sodium troclosene, may be the perfect solution to the bleach/pool shock problem.

What it is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_dichloroisocyanurate

A friend on another forum has given me permission to share his research on price comparisons and availability of this chemical for water disinfection purposes:


You can buy it in affordable tablets that can treat large or small quantities of suspect water. Amazon sells many options from a brand called Ef-Clor.

Different sized tablets are available for whatever type of containers you use. It has a 5-year shelf life, is in wide current use by many NGOs, and is WHO (World Health Organization) approved.

In reference to shelf life, Unicef.org states, “Internal testing under industry standards has shown that tabulated and strip packaged NaDCC, on the other hand, has a shelf life of 5 years in temperate and tropical climates.”

https://www.unicef.org/cholera/Annexes/Supporting_Resources/Annex_9/Clasen-NaDCC2.pdf

Note: the Amazon supplier mentioned below stated a 3-year shelf life, probably to be very conservative.

Ef-Chor is made by Hind Pharma in India: http://www.hindpharma.com/index.html

Hind Pharma also makes a lot of hospital-grade disinfectants, topical medicines, ORS (hydration salts), a few generic meds, and something like the military Chlor-Floc.

To give you an idea of the prices and available sizes:

$14 for 32 tabs that take care of 132gal per tab: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C7PY2YB/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$9 for 100 tabs that each take care of a half gallon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757QQF2K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$9 for 100 tabs that each take care of a 1.5 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757T83DX/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$40 for 100 tablets that each take care of 6.6 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BYD84MI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$10 for 100 tabs each good for 2.5gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757QNZR9/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$20 for 64 tablets each good for 26 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074P58QCX/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$11 for 100 tablets each good for 5.2 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BHDVHX/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

$18 for 20 tablets each good for 265 gallons: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757RK43G/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

So, if you spend $20 for 64 tabs (that you only need two of to use in a 55-gallon drum), you’re set for 3 to 5 years. That's 63 cents to disinfect a full 55-gallon drum. (I would also want to get some of the ~$10 boxes for small stuff.)

Keep an eye on the expiration dates on your stash of tablets. As of now, the latest shipments from the above supplier should carry an expiration date of 2024.

This is not the only brand out there. Now that you know which chemical to hunt for you can shop for it on the internet. Speaking of chemical names...

Keep in mind, according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_dichloroisocyanurate:

Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (INN: sodium troclosene, troclosenum natricum or NaDCC or SDIC). This means that sodium dichloroisocyanurate is also known as sodium troclosene.

Sodium troclosene is sold by Oasis at a much cheaper price than the Amazon seller described above. This eBay seller (https://www.ebay.com/usr/earth-survivors) sells it, and I know of people who are satisfied with this product purchased from them. This page has a description of the product: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=302668972647


Here is a roundup of the technical data:

From the World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/sodiumdichloroisocyanuratesum_2nadd.pdf

From UNICEF:
https://www.unicef.org/cholera/Annexes/Supporting_Resources/Annex_9/Clasen-NaDCC2.pdf

The CDC also provides an ISC (like an MSDS) but the link that I had went AWOL, but it should still be somewhere on the CDC website.

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[Weedygarden]

I think those bottles of tablets are what I have. I wonder which of those bottles would be best to have? Maybe a few of them would be good to have.

 

[Grizzleyette___Adams]

I think those bottles of tablets are what I have. I wonder which of those bottles would be best to have? Maybe a few of them would be good to have.

Only if the label shows any one of these chemical names: Sodium dichloroisocyanurate, or sodium troclosene, or troclosenum natricum, or NaDCC, or SDIC.

I would order varying sizes to go with your most common water container sizes. It is not a good idea to cut the tablets in half, quarters, etc. because the imperfect sizes may not guarantee a thorough job of disinfection.

 

[Weedygarden]

Only if the label shows any one of these chemical names: Sodium dichloroisocyanurate, or sodium troclosene, or troclosenum natricum, or NaDCC, or SDIC.

I would order varying sizes to go with your most common water container sizes. It is not a good idea to cut the tablets in half, quarters, etc. because the imperfect sizes may not guarantee a thorough job of disinfection.

Could the print on the bottles and packaging be any smaller? Even with a magnifying glass, I can hardly read anything.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Potable-...30859148803727380873&affillinktype=14&veh=aff
I agree, ordering varying sizes is a good idea. The ones I have are to purify quarts of water. I think these are good for water bottles and BOBs.

 

[Grizzleyette___Adams]

With the aid of the website's "magnifying window" I read tetraglycine. etc on the label but none of the chemicals in question. The second bottle is not a disinfectant but a chemical that removes the bad taste of the treated water.

For some reason the chemicals in the OP are not widely available in the USA, but is so common in other countries around the world that it can be purchased in ordinary stores. It is even available in third world countries at super cheap prices...

Go figure, lol!


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[Caribou]

Thanks! I placed an order. In two to five years I'll place another order, possibly for another size. If they have a five year expiration date then they should be fine for at least twice that.