Applications
Chlorine (Cl) is essential for public health and sanitation and is used in:
- Water purification
- Disinfectants
- Sewerage and industrial waste treatment
- Swimming pool chemicals.
Chlorine is also used as an etching agent for engraving circuit boards and as a chemical reagent in manufacturing and mineral processing, such as in the production of pigment grade titanium dioxide.
Production
Chlorine is produced by applying electricity into salt and water brine solution using the chlor-alkali production process.

Source: Ixom, Botany facility process
For every tonne of chlorine produced, 1.1 tonne of caustic soda and 340 m3 hydrogen is produced.
Chlor-alkali is manufactured in Australia.
The chlor-alkali process can be integrated with other chemical manufacturing process, including those using ethane-based chemistries to create a further range of intermediate products for use by industry.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is manufactured from chlorine and ethylene to produce vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). The VCM is then polymerised to make poly-vinyl-chloride.
PVC is used in a wide range of products including water pipes, floor coverings, window frames, cables, toys, pool membrane and furniture.
For more information on PVC, contact the Vinyl Council of Australia.