The advent of the global pandemic, COVID-19, has made it mandatory to possess increased sanitary awareness. This has led to an increased need for sanitizers and hand sanitizer materials. Currently, sanitizer raw materials are a more viable economic option than the sanitizers themselves. These are various sanitizer materials. For this article, we will be focusing on a few sanitizer materials as well as their suppliers. Specifically, we will pay attention to the sanitizer materials under the group of quaternary ammonium compounds.
The applications of the quaternary ammonium compounds are many. However, the use of these compounds is mostly restricted to surfaces. These quaternary ammonium compounds with their varying chain lengths and different molecular structures are much more effective than single-chain compounds. This difference in chain length also represents a difference in disinfecting prowess. However, we will not be focusing on that for this article.
What are Quaternary Ammonium Compounds?
These compounds can be described in general as cationic disinfectants. This means that while the regular detergents and soaps are anionic or possess a negative charge. The chains of the quaternary ammonium compounds (or quats for short) on the other hand, possess a positive charge on my tail end of their molecule.
The distinct features of quats to possess varying chain lengths and structures means that they could facilitate different reactions. Hence by mixing quaternary ammonium compounds together, their range of efficacy becomes wider and they are harmful to even more organisms. Their time of onset ranges from about 3 minutes to 10 minutes.
Additionally, quaternary ammonium compounds are compatible with such materials as cotton and other absorbent fiber. This means that they can be effectively used for cleaning and disinfection purposes. However, before being used, different fibers should be used to test the specific quaternary ammonium compound in question to confirm compatibility.
Can All Quaternary Ammonium Compounds be Used for Private Cleaning?
Some quats have been somewhat diluted to be more compatible with private use. These quats are more ideal for sanitizing a private living space. This is especially the case if kids present in the vicinity or if they might have close and continuous contact with the disinfected surface eventually. However, a suitable model for private use is DC-4.0 by Tiansland. Inc.
However, some quats are best left for company and industrial use. These quaternary ammonium compounds are usually corrosive and need to be handled with extreme care. Before they are used, complete protective gear is put on. from gloves to a face shield or goggles among others.
General Applications of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
- Their most obvious use is as disinfectants.
- They are major ingredients in sanitizer production.
- They are also used industrially as deodorizers.
- With professional use and proper dilution, some quats can be used in bars, schools, restaurants, barbershops, wipes, factories, airports, and many more.
Conclusion
So far we have gathered that quaternary ammonium compounds are essential for various disinfecting purposes. They are used majorly for sanitizer production. But the compound is much more than that.
