Trichloro Isocyanuric Acid, Trichloroisocyanuric Acid, TCCA, 87-90-1

Trichloro Isocyanuric Acid, Trichloroisocyanuric Acid, TCCA, 87-90-1

Chemical Identity

• Full Name: Trichloroisocyanuric Acid

• CAS Number: 87-90-1

• Molecular Formula: C₃Cl₃N₃O₃

• Molar Mass: 232.41 g/mol

• Appearance: White crystalline powder or tablets with a strong chlorine odor

• Solubility: Slightly soluble in water (~1.2 g/100 mL at 25 °C)

• pH (1% solution): 2.0–2.7

🏭 Applications

• Swimming Pools: Primary disinfectant and algae control agent

• Drinking Water: Used in emergency chlorination and rural sanitation

• Textile & Paper: Bleaching agent

• Food Industry: Surface disinfection of fruits and vegetables

• Animal Husbandry & Fisheries: Pathogen control in water systems

• Industrial Water Treatment: Cooling towers, recycled water, and air conditioning systems

⚙️ Chemical Behavior

• Chlorine Content: ~90% available chlorine

• Mode of Action: Releases hypochlorous acid (HOCl) upon hydrolysis, a powerful oxidizer

• Stability: Stable under dry conditions; decomposes in moisture or heat

• Hazards: Strong oxidizer (UN 2468, Class 5.1); reacts with acids and reducing agents

Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA):

🧪 Chemical Identity

🏭 Applications

1. Swimming Pool Disinfection

• Purpose: Controls bacteria, algae, and viruses

• Form: Tablets, granules, or powder

• Active Chlorine: ~90%, long-lasting release

• Target Dose: 1–3 ppm free chlorine

2. Drinking Water Treatment

• Use: Emergency sanitation and rural disinfection

• Mode of Action: Hydrolyzes into hypochlorous acid (HOCl)

• Advantages: Portable, effective against waterborne pathogens

3. Industrial Water Systems

• Applications: Cooling towers, boilers, and recycled water systems

• Industries: Textile, paper, petrochemical, food processing

• Benefits: Reduces biofilm and boosts operational efficiency

4. Surface and Equipment Disinfection

• Settings: Hospitals, labs, food plants

• Dilution: 0.5%–1% aqueous solution

• Contact Time: 10–30 minutes recommended

5. Laundry and Textile Disinfection

• Sector: Hotels, hospitals, laundries

• Effect: Kills microbes, acts as a mild bleaching agent

• Note: Dosing must be controlled to protect fabrics

6. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

• Agriculture: Disinfection of irrigation lines, seed sterilization

• Livestock: Cleaning water systems in barns, poultry, aquaculture

• Benefit: Disease control, improved yield

7. Organic Synthesis

• Function: Chlorinating agent in aromatic compound reactions

• Advantage: Solid, stable, portable alternative to gaseous chlorine

🧪 Chemical Behavior

• Releases: HOCl upon hydrolysis

• Oxidizer: Strong, requires careful storage

• Incompatible with: Acids, ammonia, reducing agents

🔄 Alternatives to TCCA (by Application)

🏊 Pool Water Treatment

🧪 Organic Synthesis

• N-Chlorosuccinimide (NCS) – Used for selective chlorination

• NaOCl + Acid – In-situ HOCl generation (requires ventilation)

🧼 Surface & Food Industry Disinfection

• Peracetic Acid – Biodegradable, no residue, broad-spectrum

• Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) – Eco-friendly, breaks down into H₂O + O₂

🏗️ Industrial Production of TCCA

🔄 Process Flow

1. Raw Materials: Cyanuric acid, chlorine gas, sodium or calcium hydroxide

2. Chlorination: Controlled gas-phase reaction in a packed bed reactor

3. Crystallization: Product is purified and solidified

4. Drying: Moisture removal to ensure storage stability

5. Forming: Processed into tablets, granules, or powder

⚙️ Technologies

• Continuous countercurrent chlorination systems

• Reactor material: Titanium alloys for chlorine resistance

• Chlorine efficiency: <0.97 tons Cl₂ per ton TCCA

• By-products: Ammonium sulfate, dilute sulfuric acid (can be recovered)

🌱 Environmental & Waste Management

• Effluent Composition: NaCl, free chlorine, residual cyanuric acid

• Treatment Methods:

  • Acid hydrolysis → Cyanuric acid recovery

  • Resin adsorption → Removal of trace organics

  • Advanced oxidation + evaporation → Waste minimization and water reuse

📛 Alternative Names for TCCA