What by-products are generated when chlorine dioxide is produced on-site?

When chlorine dioxide is produced on-site, the primary by-products generated are chlorate and chlorite. This occurs as a result of the chemical reactions involved in the generation of chlorine dioxide, typically from sodium chlorite or other precursors.

Chlorine dioxide itself is a powerful oxidizing agent used in water treatment for disinfection and odor control. However, during its generation, some of the reactants can convert into chlorate and chlorite, both of which can be present in the water treatment process.

Chlorate is formed when chlorine dioxide decomposes, while chlorite may result from the partial oxidation of chlorite ions. These by-products need to be monitored since they can have regulatory limits due to their potential health effects if present in drinking water.

Other choices, such as the presence of chlorine itself or by-products like dichloramine, do not pertain directly to the generation of chlorine dioxide in the context of on-site production. Chlorine is usually a separate disinfectant used in water treatment, and dichloramine is a by-product associated with the use of chloramines, which is another disinfection process altogether. Similarly, bromide is not a typical by-product associated with chlorine dioxide generation. Therefore, the correct identification of chlor