Quaternary Ammonium Cleaning

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Quaternary ammonium cleaning.

Quaternary ammonium cations also known as quats are positively charged polyatomic ions of the structure nr 4 r being an alkyl group or an aryl group. Research has shown quaternary ammonium compounds to effectively kill most bacteria viruses and fungi. Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride 32426 11 2 0 1016 dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride 5538 94 3 0 0406 didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride 7173 51 5 0 0609 alkyl c14 50. It is often the stuff that allows a product to claim to be antibacterial as they are certified by the epa as pesticides.

Quats quaternary ammonium compounds are potent disinfectant chemicals commonly found in disinfectant wipes sprays and other household cleaners that are designed to kill germs. Quaternary ammonium compounds are nitrogenous organic compounds used as disinfectants in restaurants hospitals and homes. Quaternary ammonium compounds overview. The final part of this three part article gives tips using quaternary ammonium chloride products.

To reduce the threat of quat binding custodial executives must train staff on the pros and cons of various disinfecting techniques. Quaternary ammonium compounds commonly known as quats or qacs are cationic surfactants surface active agents that combine bactericidal and virucidal generally only enveloped viruses activity with good detergency and therefore cleaning ability. If phenolics are used to terminally clean infant bassinets and incubators the surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly with water and dried before reuse of infant bassinets and incubators 17. The quaternary ammonium compounds are widely used as disinfectants.

C16 10 dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride 68424 85 1 0 1354 alcohol ethoxylate 68439 46 3 0 0 1. Quaternary ammonium salts or quaternary ammonium. 1 quaternary ammonium compounds in cleaning products this information sheet reviews the recognition assessment and treatment of possible adverse health effects of prod ucts containing alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides and several other quaternary ammonium compounds qacs or quats used in cleaning and disinfection. Unlike the ammonium ion nh 4 and the primary secondary or tertiary ammonium cations the quaternary ammonium cations are permanently charged independent of the ph of their solution.

Glasbey and whiteley s letter focused on another biocidal agent a quaternary ammonium compound called benzalkonium chloride. Quaternary ammonium compounds are widely used as surface disinfectants and can be found in many household cleaners including disinfectant wipes and sprays.