Benzalkonium Chloride: A Versatile Chemical with Broad Applications

Brief introduction

Benzalkonium Chloride is a compound widely used as a disinfectant and preservative in various industries. This quaternary ammonium compound exhibits strong antimicrobial properties, making it effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. It is commonly found in products such as hand sanitizers, antiseptic wipes, and cleaning solutions. Benzalkonium chloride acts by disrupting the cell membranes of bacteria and viruses, leading to their inactivation. It is known for its ability to kill both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as enveloped viruses. However, it may be less effective against non-enveloped viruses. Benzalkonium chloride is considered safe for use in low concentrations, but higher concentrations can be toxic and irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. It is important to follow proper handling and dilution guidelines when using products containing this compound.

Figure 1 Characteristics of Benzalkonium Chloride

Properties of Benzalkonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride is a light yellow liquid with an aromatic taste. Easily soluble in water, with good foam property and chemical stability, heat resistance, light resistance, and no volatilization. It has functions such as sterilization, antibacterial, emulsification, anti-static, softening, and conditioning. The pH value is between 6.5 and 7.

The method of making Benzalkonium Chloride

Prepared by quaternization and condensation of dodecyl dimethyl tertiary amine with benzyl chloride. Alternatively, dodecanol and dimethylamine can be used as raw materials to catalyze ammonification under the action of efficient catalysts.

The use of Benzalkonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride can be used as a fungicide, antistatic agent, leveling agent, stabilizer, and disinfectant. Used for disinfection and sterilization in food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, oil fields, petrochemicals, water treatment, and public facilities. Used as a leveling and buffering agent for dyeing acrylic fibers, it can improve firmness. Excellent dispersibility for cationic dyes. It can also be used as a corrosion inhibitor for chemical equipment and a bactericide for oilfield water injection.

The safety of Benzalkonium Chloride

Rat oral LD50: 400mg/kg. Has a certain degree of corrosiveness and irritation, irritates the skin, and severely irritates the eyes. Operators should wear protective equipment during work to avoid direct contact. During transportation, it should be loaded and unloaded gently to avoid impact and exposure to sunlight and rain. Avoid outdoor storage, freeze and sun protection.

Product advantages of Benzalkonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride fungicide has broad-spectrum and efficient bactericidal and algal killing abilities, and is particularly effective in killing sulfate reducing bacteria. It is soluble in water, easy to use, not affected by the hardness of water, and has a strong clay stripping effect. Benzalkonium Chloride has low toxicity and no cumulative toxicity, unlike water treated with chlorine gas that contains residual chlorine and causes secondary pollution. In systems that cannot be controlled by chlorine gas, this series of products can effectively control algal growth and the growth of sludge. It has the functions of dispersion and permeation, can penetrate and remove sticky mud and detached algae, and has the ability to remove oil, as well as the function of cleaning oil stains.

Determination of Benzalkonium Chloride Content

Take about 0.5g of this product, accurately weigh it, place it in a beaker, wash it with 35ml of water in portions into a 250ml separating funnel, add 10ml of 0.1mol/L sodium hydroxide solution and 25ml of trichloromethane, and accurately add 10ml of newly prepared 5% potassium iodide solution. Shake and let it stand to separate the layers. Extract the aqueous layer three times with 10ml each time, discard the trichloromethane layer, transfer the aqueous layer into a 250ml conical flask with a stopper, wash the separating funnel three times with about 15ml of water, combine the washing solution and the aqueous solution, add 40ml of hydrochloric acid, let it cool, titrate with potassium iodate titrant (0.05mol/L) to a light brown color, add 5mU of trihydromethane to continue titration and vigorously shake until the trichloromethane layer is colorless, and then titrate the mixture. The results were corrected using blank experiments. Each 1ml of potassium iodate titrant (0.05mol/L) is equivalent to 35.40mg of C22H40C1N.

Reference

[1] Merchel Piovesan Pereira B, Tagkopoulos I. Benzalkonium chlorides: uses regulatory status, and microbial resistance[J]. Applied and environmental microbiology, 2019, 85(13): e00377-19.

[2] Rasmussen C A, Kaufman P L, Kiland J A. Benzalkonium chloride and glaucoma[J]. Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2014, 30(2-3): 163-169.

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