Patent ID: 8017032

Claim:
A solid composition in the form of a tablet that produces chlorine dioxide on demand upon contact with water, the composition comprising: at least one solid chlorite donor in an amount to provide chlorite anion to obtain at least 25 wt % yield chlorine dioxide when the composition is contacted with water; at least one solid form of low solubility free halogen donor in an amount from 12 to 60 wt % and in an amount to convert at least 70 wt % of the chlorite anion to chlorine dioxide when the composition is contacted with water; at least one solid acid source in an amount to provide a pH of less than 7.8 when 1 gram of tablet composition is dissolved in 100 ml of water; and a coating covering the chlorite donor, the coating comprising at least one gel-forming polymer, the coating being present in an amount to provide a yield of chlorine dioxide of at least 25 wt % at a conversion of chlorite anion to chlorine dioxide of at least 70 wt % when the composition is contacted with water, wherein the coating being constructed to provide a gelatinous membrane encapsulating the chlorite donor upon contact with water which slows a dissolution rate of the chlorite donor, creates a chamber in which chlorine dioxide is produced, restricts diffusion of the chlorite donor and chlorine dioxide out of the chamber, and restricts diffusion of water into the chamber, and all wt % being based on the total weight of the composition unless otherwise stated.