Increased demand for chemicals used to help curb the spread of Covid-19

The World Health Organisation recommends a 0.5% hypochlorite solution to disenfect surfaces potentially contaminated with Covid-19. 

Hypochlorite is the active ingredient in bleach, which has a concentration of 3.5% hypochlorite, thus a 0.5% hypochlorite solution would require bleach to be diluted seven times. This level of dilution would make bleach safe for use in homes and hospitals, to disinfect surfaces.

Many countries are now spraying streets with a 0.5% hypochlorite solution in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19. This has led to an increased demand for hypochlorite, especially in China and Europe. Concentrated hypochlorite has a limited shelf life and logistics and timing are an important consideration in the supply of the chemical.

Hypochlorite is produced through a process of reacting chlorine with caustic soda.  In turn, chlorine and caustic soda are made using chlor-alkali electrolysers, produced using a pure salt solution and electricity. 

thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (tkIS) supplies chlor-alkali electrolyers in 45 t/d and 10 t/d to 20 t/d modular units, or according to required sizes. To ensure an adequate supply to the South African market, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa (tkISSA) has contacted the Sasol Polymers and National Chemical Products chlor-alkali plants to give notice of the expected increase in hypochlorite demand.  Sasol Polymers operates thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineer (tkUCE) GEN 4 BM and n‑BITAC chlor-alkali electrolysers.

tkUCE Italia, in cooperation with tkISSA, was awarded a contract in 2018 for a 45 t/d chlor-alkali plant in Tanzania.  The modules have been delivered and the plant is under construction. In some African countries the normal demand for chlorine, hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda is much lower and a 10 t/d to 20 t/d modular chlor-alkali plant would be better suited to these requirements and is currently being considered.

In Holland,  traces of coronavirus has been detected in wastewater treatment plants. Waste water in South Africa flows into rivers, making it particularly important to maintain adequate chlorine residual in drinking water, to ensure there are no pathogens present in the water.

tkISSA designed and built the n-propanol and high purity ethanol plants in Secunda for Sasol. Isopropyl alcohol, n-propanol and ethanol are in great demand for hand sanitisers and cleaning agents. tkISSA has been in discussion with Sasol and it has confirmed the company’s readiness for an increased demand for these products.

Many distributors use the alcohols to dilute to a 70% solution, blended with hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, aloe vera or other products used as moisturisers for the skin. In the absence of alcohol sanitisers, diluted hypochlorite can be used, but is found to be harsh on the skin.