chlorine

Chlorine is extensively used ill the arts as a bleaching and oxidizing agent. It is chiefly employed in the form of a solution of "bleaching powder" or "chloride of lime," which contains calcium hypochlorite, and as chi orates or hypochlorites of the alkali metals. Liquid chlorine, compressed in steel cylinders, has recently become an article of commerce, and it appears probable that this form of shipment may be extended in the future. Demand growth for chlorine in Asia, primarily China, will be the driving force for additional chlor-alkali capacity. From 2001-2006, capacity in Northeast Asia increased by 7 million metric tons, while the rest of the world declined by almost 1 million metric tons. The real impact will be in the next five years as 9 million metric tons of capacity is scheduled to be brought on-stream globally, with almost 90 percent of the new capacity projected to be in Northeast Asia, specifically China. Chlorine demand in Northeast Asia is forecast to increase by five percent per year, compared to growth in the rest of the world of about one percent per year.