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Disinfectants: isopropanol vs ethanol

Dec 9，2021

At present, the most commonly used alcohol disinfectants in the world are ethanol and isopropanol. In china, ethanol is mainly used for disinfection. However, most other countries have popularized isopropanol disinfection earlier. Both disinfectants can condense protein and cause the death of microorganisms. It is a moderately effective disinfectant. From the point of view of its effect, it kills bacterial proliferation and damages most lipophilic poisons, such as herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, and humans. Immune defects, poisons and other effects are the same.

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Both alcohol disinfection products are volatile, and the usual concentration of disinfectant solvents is 75%. There are many compound alcohol disinfectants at home and abroad, and these products are mostly used for hand skin disinfection. Ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol are all used in compound alcohol disinfectants.

Two current methods of using disinfectants:

75% ethanol solution is used for soaking, scrubbing and disinfection, mainly for hand skin disinfection.

70% isopropanol solution is used for soaking, scrubbing, medical equipment, and disinfection of medical places.

Bactericidal effect

Ethanol: It can kill bacteria and fungal spores. Gram-positive bacteria are slightly more resistant than gram-negative bacteria and are ineffective against bacterial spores.

Isopropanol: It can kill bacteria proliferation and other fungi such as fungal spores, but also cannot kill bacterial spores.

Disinfection efficacy

There is a small difference in the disinfection effect of alcohol and isopropanol. Because the official component of isopropanol is dimethyl methanol, it contains two groups of methyl groups to make it more permeable than ethanol, which naturally increases the contact ability. This is also the reason why isopropanol disinfectant is widely used abroad. A 75% ethanol medical aqueous solution has a group of ethyl groups. The penetrating power of ethyl groups is weaker than that of methyl groups. This is the only difference in function. The ingredients of most medical disinfection tablets on the market in my country are actually 70% isopropanol and non-woven fabrics.

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