
Hypochlorous acid has a long scientific history and many promising attributes. Yet it is hard to understand why HOCl based disinfectants aren’t used in every commercial cleaning operation. Studies have revealed that HOCl comprises many of the desired effects of the ideal disinfectant ease of use, cost-effectiveness, safety profile, and application areas.
To further understand the pros and cons of using HOCl for cleaning operations, we spoke to a cleaning consultant and some housekeepers to take their perspective about the matter.
Understanding HOCl
In the large family of disinfectants, chlorine products have shown their effectiveness since the 19th century. “Despite an abundant supply of chemical disinfectants, hypochlorite, which is very inexpensive, still has wide use in the medical field, and there is no product with so many advantages in terms of efficacy and cost. However, everyone knows its drawbacks related, in particular, to its toxicity and its taste,” says Mohamed Khabab, Associate Founder, MKH Cleaning Project Management, Brussels Metropolitan Area.
Khabab adds that among chlorinated products, hypochlorous acid offers a superior antimicrobial spectrum than bleach without having the disadvantages of hypochlorite. This liquid is obtained thanks to the recent evolution of the electrolysis technique.
“It offers a cost-effective and effective solution to all health professionals looking for a versatile and easy-to-produce product to provide a range of interventions ranging from hygiene or antisepsis care to advanced disinfection, even in the presence of SARS- Cov-2,” he says.
Khabab further offers a comprehensive comparison of HOCl with other chemical disinfectants.
He says that hypochlorous acid is not toxic and not dangerous for humans and the environment, unlike chemical disinfectants. It is not irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract and even if accidentally swallowed it does not hurt.
HOCI also does not have a permanent antimicrobial effect while other chemicals do.
Indeed when it lands on a surface it reacts and eliminates microbes and bacteria but becomes after that ineffective. It's good and bad: it's good because it allows immediate sanitation of the surface and therefore no need for rinsing, but bad because it loses its effectiveness after contact.
Sustainability and Effectiveness
Minar Aliyar, Executive Housekeeper, Gevora Hotel offers an interesting insight into the sustainability and effectiveness of the hypochlorous acid. According to Minar, Hypochlorous Acid (HOCI) when used for disinfection is a sustainable eco-friendly product that is non-toxic meaning there is no harmful chemicals involved in its production, the solution turns to saline upon use and also it causes no harm to the environment when utilised on any surface yet it is 99% effective against virus and bacteria equally as any other disinfection solution. Sometimes disinfection involves fogging the entire area hence HOCI does not stain expensive upholstery fabric as its completely natural. It is also non-alcoholic meaning it has very less irritation to sensitive skin and causes less loss of moisture or dryness. It has non-corrosive properties hence it does not cause corrosion meaning it can be used safely on any surface. Sometimes in luxury hotels where in the owners have invested a lot of money in expensive marbles and gold coloured Metal surfaces, housekeepers need to be extra cautious in cleaning products that causes no damage to these installations. Disinfection solutions that contain HOCI can be safely used on any of these surfaces due to its neutral pH7 properties. HOCI destroys viruses by chlorination by forming chloramines and nitrogen-centered radicals, resulting in single- as well as double-stranded DNA breaks, rendering the nucleic acid useless and the virus harmless.
Nabil Sheikh, Cluster Executive Housekeeper, Milennium Central and Kingsgate Hotel, Qatar, adds how HOCI can effectively sanitize and disinfect an entire building from floor to ceiling including tables, chairs, benches, booths, glass, high chairs, booster seats, host podiums, and much more. HOCl is the perfect solution for protecting your bar by keeping it clean, safe, and free of odors and germs.
“HOCl has been used in medical disinfecting and has been for decades and, during the pandemic, doctors and medical specialists trusted this force of nature to provide an on-demand option for effective disinfecting amid disinfectant supply shortages, with no harmful chemicals or lasting odors that can trigger health conditions,” he adds.
Nabil believes that fogging hypochlorous acid allows you to, safely, kill any bacteria and viruses that may be present in the air. This is particularly good for businesses that have an ever-changing footfall of customer.
Disinfectants and disinfection techniques should be safe for a long exposure time on personnel, equipment and surfaces used in the fight against coronavirus. Disinfection technologies for indoors are important to reduce transmission, especially in crowded settings. HOCl has been proposed as an effective disinfectant in various settings from food production, handling and preparation (farming and hospitality industry) to healthcare applications, including chronic wound care and eyelid infection management
There is study found, the effective concentration of HOCl to be 200 ppm in decontaminating inert surfaces carrying noroviruses and other enteric viruses in a 1-minute contact time. When diluted 10-fold, HOCl solutions at 20 ppm were still effective in decontaminating environmental surfaces carrying viruses in a 10-minute contact time.
Nabil further highlights how HOCl compares with other has been studied for many years and it is an undeniable fact that it is a more powerful oxidant than chlorine HOCl kills bacteria, bacterial spores, and viruses 100 times more effectively than chlorine bleach.
Another study found that HOCl exhibited higher bactericidal activity compared with Sodiumhypochlorite with the same concentration of 0.5 mg/L. Results from spray experiments also showed that 20-minute exposure to sprayed HOCl of 0.01% was sufficient to reduce 99.5% of Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Pros and cons
Minar explains that disinfection solutions that contain HOCI are approved by the Dubai Municipality and is listed under specific brand names for the certified Biocides sold in UAE. It is very safe to use in any kind of medical facilities, hospitals, pharmacies and hotels that require high level of cleanliness and hygiene. HOCI disinfectants are 100% natural and can be used easily in presence of guests, unlike some disinfection solutions that require the areas to be vacated or not occupied for certain hours. Disinfection solutions that contain HOCI is one of its kind and can safely be used in food preparation areas as it causes no harm upon accidental ingestion. It can also safely be used in places that consider only vegan products. Disinfectants that contain alcohol and other harmful chemicals may eliminate virus or bacteria from the surface if sprayed or fogged but if the chemical droplets itself remain on the surface, then it is even more dangerous if it may come in human contact, on the contrary disinfectants with HOCI are not harmful after its application and are natural products. The only challenge with HOCI is the short shelf life compared to other chemical disinfectants.
In summary, we can say that its wide use in all sectors (hospital, food, industrial, domestic and even in water sanitation and other research centres, etc) makes HOCI a promising means and effective for disinfection and decontamination.