javel
Dutch / French-derived usage
javel
In technical Dutch (especially Belgian Dutch), javel refers to an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite, commonly used as a disinfectant, oxidising agent, or cleaning chemical.
The term originates from French eau de Javel and is widely used in: - wastewater treatment, - membrane installations (CIP), - industrial cleaning processes.
English
Preferred translation (technical / patent)
- sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl)
This is the chemically precise and patent-safe term, and should be used in: - patents, - engineering documentation, - wastewater treatment descriptions, - membrane cleaning procedures.
Acceptable alternatives (context-dependent)
- hypochlorite solution – technical shorthand
- bleach – acceptable where the functional role is emphasised rather than chemical specification
- chlorine bleach – only if distinction from non-chlorine bleaches is relevant
Usage notes
- Do not translate javel as “chlorine” — this is chemically incorrect and overly vague.
- In patents, sodium hypochlorite is preferred even when javel appears in the source text.
- Where the source lists “natriumhypochloriet of javel”, it is acceptable to translate this as
“sodium hypochlorite or bleach” to reflect both the chemical and colloquial designations.
Examples
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| reiniging met javel | cleaning with sodium hypochlorite |
| toevoeging van javel | addition of sodium hypochlorite |
| javel-oplossing | sodium hypochlorite solution |
| desinfectie met javel | disinfection using sodium hypochlorite |
Related terms
- natriumhypochloriet → sodium hypochlorite
- desinfectiemiddel → disinfectant
- CIP-reiniging → cleaning-in-place (CIP)
- oxidatiemiddel → oxidising agent