BCDMH

1-Bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (BCDMH) is a chemical structurally related to hydantoin. It is a white crystalline compound with a slight bromine and acetone odor and is insoluble in water, but soluble in acetone.

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BCDMH is an excellent source of both chlorine and bromine as it reacts slowly with water releasing hypochlorous acid and hypobromous acid. It used as a chemical disinfectant used for recreational water and drinking water purification. BCDMH works in the following manner:

The initial BCDMH reacts with water (R = Dimethylhydantoin):

BrClR + 2 H₂O → HOBr + HOCl + RH₂

Hypobromous acid partially dissociates in water:

HOBr → H⁺ + OBr^-

Hypobromous acid oxidizes the substrate, itself being reduced to bromide:

HOBr + Live pathogens → Br^- + Dead pathogens

The bromide ions are oxidized with the hypochlorous acid that was formed from the initial BCDMH:

Br^- + HOCl → HOBr + Cl^-

This produces more hypobromous acid. However, it should be noted that the hypochlorous acid itself does act directly as a disinfectant in the process.

References

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