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The Daily Insight

Is elemental chlorine free Safe?

Author

David Jones

Updated on April 04, 2026

Chlorine and its derivatives (such as chlorine dioxide)—the most common bleaching agents used by the pulp and paper industry—are quite harmful to the environment, particularly the aquatic environment. Chlorine-free paper is categorized as either “totally chlorine-free” (TCF) or “elemental chlorine-free” (ECF).

What is the difference between elemental chlorine and chlorine?

Elementally chlorine free (ECF) means that no chlorine was used, however other chemicals containing chlorine are used for bleaching. Process chlorine free (PCF) means that recycled paper that is processed back into paper using no chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

What is process chlorine free?

PCF (process chlorine free) = A bleaching process which entirely excludes the use of chlorine and chlorine dioxide. Nevertheless paper collected for recycling, which forms the basis of NAUTILUS® for example, may contain traces of chlorine substances. All recycled papers are produced using PCF.

What is elemental chlorine gas?

A. 1 Chlorine Gas. Elemental chlorine is a toxic, yellow-green gas at normal pressures. At high pressures, it is a liquid. Chlorine gas is typically supplied as a liquid in high pressure cylinders.

How do you make paper chlorine free?

A few paper makers (primarily in Europe) produce totally chlorine-free paper. This paper can be produced in two ways. Virgin fibers can be used to form a pulp that is bleached using hydrogen peroxide or ozone. Alternatively, recycled paper can be bleached using a process that does not use chlorine compounds.

Why is chlorine free paper?

Paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF) uses ozone, oxygen and/or peroxide to bleach the paper. This method uses no chlorine, thus significantly reducing the amount of harmful waste produced by the process.

What is elemental chlorine bleaching?

Elemental chlorine is chlorine gas, which is used to bleach the pulp (after all, trees are brown, not white, like paper). The problem with chlorine is that, when combined with lignins (cellular glue in wood), it produces furans and highly carcinogenic dioxin.

What is elemental chlorine used for?

Chlorine is commonly used as an antiseptic and is used to make drinking water safe and to treat swimming pools. Large amounts of chlorine are used in many industrial processes, such as in the production of paper products, plastics, dyes, textiles, medicines, antiseptics, insecticides, solvents and paints.

Does Scott toilet paper have chlorine?

When we make our Scott® Brand toilet paper, we use a chlorine-free bleaching step to whiten the pulp, but the pulp used is not bleached with elemental chlorine. Also, we do not intentionally add Bisphenol A or Formaldehyde to any Scott® Brand toilet paper, however, formaldehyde can be present as a trace contaminant.

Is cottonelle chlorine free?

Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF): Paper bleached with chlorine dioxide. Examples brands of ECF toilet paper: Charmin, Quilted Northern, Cottonelle, Angle Soft, Kleenex, Safeway Select.

Does Charmin have chlorine?

No. 100% of the pulp used in our products is elemental chlorine free (ECF).

Is Angel Soft chlorine free?

In response to your question about Angel Soft allow me to share we do not add formaldehyde to any of our tissue products. Also, all Georgia-Pacific’s bleaching processes are currently either elemental chlorine free (ECF) or process chlorine free (PCF). If you have additional questions we would love to speak with you.

What is the formula for elemental chlorine?

Elemental chlorine has the chemical formula of Cl2 and is a member of the halogen group of elements. The weak bond between the two atoms makes the molecule very reactive. It is a strong oxidizing agent and causes oxidation by accepting electrons from a compound.

What are the uses of the element chlorine?

Chlorine is used (generally a particular compound of chlorine) to kill bacteria in drinking water and swimming pools.

  • While not used as often today,some armed forces still use chlorine as a poison gas.
  • Chlorine is used to make plastics.
  • PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is made from chlorine.
  • Chlorine is used in bromine extraction.
  • What are all the elements in chlorine?

    Fast Facts: The Element Chlorine Element Name: Chlorine Atomic Number: 17 Element Symbol: Cl Appearance: Pale greenish-yellow gas Element Group: Halogen

    What elements combine with chlorine?

    Nitrogen can combine with three chlorine atoms, forming Nitrogen trichloride, or NCl3. Nitrogen shares its electrons with the chlorine atoms, so all of the atoms have their shells filled. Take a look at the dots around the atoms.