DBDMH

DBDMH
IUPAC name 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin
Other names Albrom 100, DBDMH, Dibromantin, Dibromodimethylhydantoin, XtraBrom 111
Identifiers
CAS number	77-48-5
ChemSpider	6234 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES O=C1N(Br)C(=O)N(Br)C1(C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C5H6Br2N2O2/c1-5(2)3(10)8(6)4(11)9(5)7/h1-2H3 Y Key: VRLDVERQJMEPIF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C5H6Br2N2O2/c1-5(2)3(10)8(6)4(11)9(5)7/h1-2H3 Key: VRLDVERQJMEPIF-UHFFFAOYAQ
Properties
Molecular formula	C5H6Br2N2O2
Molar mass	285.92 g mol−1
Appearance	White solid
Density	1.36 g/cm3
Melting point	197-203 °C
Solubility in water	0.1 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

DBDMH is an organic compound derived from the heterocycle called dimethylhydantoin. This white crystalline compound with a slight bromine odor is widely used as a disinfectant used for drinking water purification, recreational water treatment, as a bleaching agent in pulp and paper mills, and for treating industrial/commercial water cooling systems. ^[1] Its action does not involve the use of hypochlorous acid.

Mechanism of action

DBDMH is a source of bromine, which is equivalent to hypobromous acid (HOBr).

Br₂X + 2 H₂O → 2 HOBr + H₂X

(Where H₂X is 5,5-dimethylhydantoin)

With a pK_a of 8.6, hypobromous acid partially dissociates in water:

HOBr ⇌ H⁺ + BrO^-

Hypobromous acid serves as a source of "Br⁺," which produces bromide ions in the process of disinfection:

HOBr + live pathogens → Br^- + dead pathogens

The resulting bromide ions can then undergo oxidation to hypobromous acid in the presence of an oxidizer of sufficient strength e.g. ozone, hypochlorous acid, potassium monopersulfate. This reoxidation process is commonly called "activation" of the bromide ion:

Br^- + HOCl → HOBr + Cl^-

References

1. ^ David Ioffe, Arieh Kampf “Bromine, Organic Compounds” in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2002, by John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/0471238961.0218151325150606.a01

External links

• MSDS