HOCL®, also known as Hypochlorous acid, is a powerful disinfectant that is effective at killing a wide range of microorganisms. This is due to its ability to disrupt the integrity of the cell membrane and the internal structures of the microbe causing rapid death and breakdown. In this blog, we will explore the mechanisms by which HOCL® kills microorganisms and how it differs from other disinfectants that only act on the cell membrane.
One of the key ways in which HOCL® kills microorganisms is through the
oxidation of essential cell components. Its size and solubility allow it to easily penetrate the cell membrane, and once inside, it can attack and disrupt the cell's infrastructure and metabolic enzymes, DNA, and other vital molecules. This effectively "shuts down" the microbe's metabolism, rendering it dead and broken with its damaged structure vulnerable to being broken up and dispersed.
It is the Active Chlorine Concentration (ACC) of HOCL® that reacts with the cell's macromolecules destroying the cell’s ability to function. It is the Reactive Chlorine ions that oxidise the cell membrane of the microbe, making it leaky so that the cell contents escape which results in rapid cell death.
Other disinfectants such as bleach and Hydrogen peroxide are charged and work less effectively because they can only attack the microbe membrane from the outside, whereas HOCL breaks down the membrane structure very rapidly by attacking it from both sides at the same time because it can penetrate the membrane more effectively. While effective, these disinfectants penetrate the cell less effectively than HOCL®. The high energy Chlorine ions of HOCL are very reactive with a high redox potential which means that they are more effective at disrupting the chemistry of the microbe cells than Hydrogen peroxide and bleach which are very different chemicals because the bleach has no hydrogen ions and Hydrogen peroxide has no Chlorine ions. It is the ability of HOCL® to penetrate the cell membrane and disrupt the internal structure of microorganisms that makes it a highly effective disinfectant. Its ability to kill a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and spores, whilst being a natural and non-toxic product produced by most animals that is harmless to the environment makes it a preferred choice disinfectant for most applications.
HOCL® is widely used in a variety of settings, including wound cleaning and healing, dentistry, cleaning hospitals. Its effectiveness against microorganisms, along with its safety profile, makes it an ideal choice for disinfection.
In summary, Hypochlorous acid (HOCL®) is the preferred choice of disinfectant because it is safe, whilst being effective at killing all microorganisms very quickly . This is due to its ability to penetrate the microbe and attack its cell membrane from both sides whilst disrupting the internal structures and chemistry, leading to it being killed and destroyed quickly. It is a safe choice because it kills all germs whilst being non toxic and non carcinogenic. It is comforting to know that it is the disinfectant produced by our own immune system.