Patent ID: 7927509

Claim:
A cyclic process for the conversion of a dilute solution of chlorite anions to chlorine dioxide in an aqueous system for enhanced inactivation of microbiological organisms, the process comprising: addition of an activating oxidant selected from at least one of a free halogen donor comprising some portion of free chlorine and peroxymonosulfate donor to the aqueous system; and obtaining in said aqueous system a bromide anion concentration from about 5 ppm to 1000 ppm, a chlorite anion concentration necessary to sustain from about 0.1 to 20 ppm as chlorine dioxide, and a pH of between about 6.0 to 8.5; whereby the activating oxidant reacts with the bromide anion to sustain a free bromine concentration from about 2.25 to 50 ppm reported as Br 2 , subsequent reaction of the free bromine with the chlorite anion to produce chlorine dioxide; and wherein at least some portion of the recovered bromide anions and chlorite anions resulting from the reduction of free bromine and chlorine dioxide are recycled in the cyclic process.