The recent debate over chlorine has focused on the possible environmental effects of a number of chlorinated compounds. Legislation to fund a study of chlorine and chlorinated compounds is under consideration. This simple fact has been omitted from the debate. When chlorine reacts with organic material such as lignin, the tissue that holds the wood's cellular walls together, it can result in potentially harmful chlorinated organics in mill waste water. Chlorine dioxide is radically different from elemental chlorine, both in its chemical structure and behavior.
Chlorine dioxide is a proven pollution prevention technology .
Laboratory studies and field tests clearly demonstrate chlorine dioxide's superior environmental performance. Chlorine dioxide solves the problem of dioxin and other persistent, bio-accumulative toxic substances in pulp and paper mill was te water. Chlorine dioxide is an environmentally superior bleaching agent, and produces the strongest paper for today's rising recycling requirements . Chlorine dioxide is today's best bleaching option for recyclable paper for use in high-quality magazines that require bright white, extremely thin, and very strong paper for printing presses running at race car speeds. The demand for pulp bleached with chlorine dioxide is rising sharply .