Mechanism of oxidation by dichlorotriazenetrione How does dichlorotriazenetrione supply chlorine to a swimming pool and how does it oxidize organic material?
Dichlorotriazenetrione, also known as dichloroisocyanuric acid, is slowly hydrolyzed in water to isocyanuric acid and hypochlorous acid, which serves as the oxidation agent. The N-Cl bond is easily hydrolyzed because of its relative weakness, which is also reflected in the stability of nitrogen halides. The slow hydrolysis releases a low but constant amount of oxidizers. $\ce{HOCl}$ itself oxidizes organic compounds, being reduced to $\ce{HCl}$ in the process.



In aqueous solution, $\ce{HOCl}$ is in equilibrium with its anhydride $\ce{Cl2O}$ and elemental chlorine, which also serve as oxidizers. Furthermore, it slowly decomposes to $\ce{HCl}$ and oxygen, so that a mixture of different oxidation agents is present in its solution.

$$\ce{HCl + HOCl \rightleftharpoons Cl2 + H2O}$$

$$\ce{2HOCl \rightleftharpoons Cl2O + H2O}$$

$$\ce{2HOCl \rightarrow 2HCl + O2}$$