The magic of Hypochlorous Acid Water
Overview
Hypochlorous acid water (HOCL) is a totally safe, non-toxic highly effective bacteria killer. The technology is different to bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and other sterilisation products on the market as it does not relay on high toxicity to kill bacteria.
Hypochlorous acid is a colourless and tasteless compound that is naturally active in the human body. Bacteria and foreign bodies that invade the human body are decomposed by the activity of a modified form of hypochlorous acid. SpraySafe's hypochlorous acid water products use the same sterilisation principle as white blood cells and can instantly kill bacteria in the skin's epidermis preventing bacteria from invading your body, preventing deeper infections.
How HOCL Kills Bacteria
In the process of killing bacteria and virus's, hypochlorous acid first attacks the shell of the pathogen, as the hypochlorous acid molecule is small and has no charge, it can pass through the cell wall to penetrate into the bacteria body. The proteins, nucleic acids & enzymes undergo oxidation reactions, which destroy the enzyme system of the bacteria and hinder its metabolism, thereby killing pathogenic microorganisms.
How it compares - Alcohol vs HOCl
Mechanism of Action: Alcohol kills germs primarily by dehydrating them. It is effective against bacteria and viruses that have a lipid shell.
Concentration Matters: For alcohol to be effective, it must be used at concentrations above 75%. Lower concentrations do not effectively kill pathogens.
The Chemistry Behind Hypochlorous Acid Water-
Due to its mild acid state with a pH value between, 5 and 6.5 the chlorine concentration of Hypochlorous Acid Water is effective from a very low parts per million concentration, 10-30ppm. Which is 100 times more powerful than bleach but at a low concentration.
The above explains the “Equilibrium chart on chloride solution” and shows the different ways that chlorine exists in solution. There are three phases of solution;
CI2 - causing a pungent chlorine smell and rust
HOCL - effective disinfectant
OCL - ineffective disinfectant
These phases are shown together on the chart with the composition changes that occurs according to pH value.
If pH is 4.0 to 7.0 large amounts of HOCL will be formed. Since it is proven that the main disinfecting agent in chlorine solution is HOCL this state can be used effectively where the concentration of chlorine is from a tiny 10-30 ppm.
On the other hand, sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) contains only around 5% of hypochlorous acid; therefore, a very high concentration of chlorine of 1000 to 2000 ppm must be used to achieve the same killing power.
Reference- George Clifford White Handbook of chlorination and Alternative Disinfectants, 3rd edition, 1999
At SpraySafe here in NZ we use EU-certified electrolysis equipment to generate our HOCl water products. The effective chlorine concentration and pH value of our HOCl water can be finely adjusted depending on application.
Safety
HOCl is naturally occurring, safe for humans and the environment. Key benefits are that it can be used on sensitive skin and in conjunction with food. This is particularly important in settings like hospitals or food processing, where traditional chlorine compounds can be harmful to both health and the environment.
HOCl sterilisation effect is strong however, the method of generation is environmentally friendly. Traditional chlorine disinfectants can produce harmful by-products, including chlorinated compounds that can be toxic to aquatic life. HOCl does not generate these types of harmful residues. Unlike many chemical disinfectants, hypochlorous acid breaks down into harmless substances, mainly salt and water, once it has performed its disinfecting function. This minimises the potential for environmental contamination.
The resulting product is
Versatile in application
Long shelf life
High stability
Very safe
Versatile in format - HOCl water can be safely sprayed to sterilise the air unlike other strongly acidic or alkaline electrolytic sterilising water technologies that cannot be safely used for air spray disinfection.
Advantages of SpraySafe's mild acid hypochlorous acid water
1. It contains very low concentration of chlorine and is nearly odourless and has no negative impact on skin.
2. It is effective at killing microorganisms and spores.
3. As a naturally occurring substance it is very gentle on the environment, humans and animals.
4. Wide range of applications, skincare, food preparation, agriculture, medical, personal hygiene, etc
5. Non toxic, does not contain any toxic substances such as chloroform, cholic acid, bromic acid.
Proof
In NZ our products are tested and certified by International lab standards and our Protect product is approved for use by MPI for use in food preparation, indicating its reliability and safety for use in settings where hygiene is critical.
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