Introduction
If we learn nothing else from the year 2020, we will take away the critical need for industrial disinfection in all countries across the globe. Workers in the healthcare, food processing and service, municipal water and wastewater treatment industries have all been thrust to center stage in the heroic efforts to protect the general public.
In 2019, the global surface disinfectant market was estimated at $1.4 billion and is expected to surge by 7.5% by 2027. This growth in the market will be due to a steady increase of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) coupled with positive disinfectant usage regulations in industrial settings. The number of chronic diseases is also projected to help the upswing of disinfectant growth.
The TwinOxide chlorine dioxide product from Big Bend Water Technologies is a viable, powerful solution to fight a host of pathogens in all aforementioned industrial settings. It is easy to use, simple to apply and has no negative impact on human health. TwinOxide also disinfects water without producing hazardous by-products created from traditional disinfectants.
TwinOxide does not cause a load on the environment and is approved according to the world’s most stringent national laws and regulations. TwinOxide decreases the use of chlorine and other standard disinfectants, making it a safe solution for the environment and general consumer welfare.
This white paper will address the chemical components of TwinOxide as well as its applications and comparative beneficial effects in use.
The state of industrial market disinfectants
Complications of eradicating microorganisms in industrial settings can be challenging at best. There is so much at stake when it comes to maintaining sterile conditions in healthcare, food and community situations. So, what is the answer for staying ahead of infection in industrial settings? What is the state of industrial market disinfectants? What options are available for effective eradication?
There are several broad categories of disinfectants being used in today’s industrial facilities. The list below shows the majority in use today.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
A top choice for disinfection in hospital and institutional settings because of their low cost and quick action against a wide range of microorganisms. Quats can be formulated with a variety of detergents to provide both cleaning and disinfecting ability.
Chlorine Compounds
Kill an array of organisms including resistant viruses, and are highly recommended for cleaning bodily fluids. Chlorine-based disinfectants are inexpensive and have relatively quick kill times, however they can be corrosive and cause discoloration as well as irritation if not used as directed.
Alcohols
When diluted in water, alcohols are effective against a wide range of bacteria, though higher concentrations are often needed to disinfect wet surfaces. The downsides are they evaporate quickly (and thus may not remain on the surface long enough to kill), they’re flammable, and they may not be effective on organic matter.
Aldehydes
Very effective against the bacteria that cause Tuberculosis, yet they need a high part per million (ppm) ratio to be effective for disinfection. Some bacteria have developed a resistance to aldehydes, and have been found to cause asthma and other health problems.
Iodophors
Can be used for disinfecting some semi-critical medical equipment but they can stain surfaces and have an unpleasant odor.
Phenolic Compounds
Effective against pathogenic bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as fungi and viruses, but also very toxic and corrosive.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Often mixed with peracetic acid to achieve specific disinfecting claims. These strong oxidizers can be highly reactive if mixed with other chemicals or come in contact with various surfaces. Their efficacy range is somewhat limited and at high concentrations they are dangerous.
The importance of proper disinfection during these critical times
America faces a monumental challenge as it prepares for recovery during these trying times. Practicing social distancing and other protective habits work to provide some protection from exposure detrimental microbes. However, our safe re-entry into work, education, healthcare and entertainment facilities will require strong public health initiatives which include cleaning and disinfecting public spaces.
TwinOxide ®: A safe, affordable industrial disinfection
TwinOxide® is the answer to multiple disinfectant situations in the industrial market.
TwinOxide®/Chlorine Dioxide is registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a disinfectant, sanitizer and sterilizer. TwinOxide has the power to destroy or eliminate a broad range of the pathogens that threaten society.
Chlorine Dioxide--The active ingredient in TwinOxide® has been proven effective against legionella, norovirus, staphylococcus, cryptosporidium, rotavirus, streptococcus, influenza, human coronaviruses and similar pathogens.
TwinOxide is the end result of 18 years of international scientific research and development from Big Bend Water Technologies. This new product provides for stable disinfection through the purest and most stable ready-to-use chlorine dioxide-based product on the U.S. market.
How TwinOxide® Works
TwinOxide (chlorine dioxide) works through the reactions of the oxidizable compound material inside cells and cell membranes disrupting cell metabolism and killing the pathogen. As another destructive measure, chlorine dioxide also reacts directly with the bonds in amino acids and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the cell.
TwinOxide extends its properties past non-oxidizing disinfectants to kill inactive microorganisms, something non-oxidizing disinfectants can’t do. The oxidative load placed on cells by TwinOxide means that most pathogens are unable to build up resistance to its chlorine dioxide properties.
TwinOxide® Applications
TwinOxide was developed to slow down the spread of contamination—all through the reinvention of a proven chemistry. This chemistry is used in many industrial applications including:
- Hospital sterilization
- Paper mill process treatments
- Municipal drinking water
- Industrial food and vegetable processing facilities
- Sewage and wastewater treatment plants
TwinOxide is powerful enough to kill microbes without endangering human health. Some current applications include:
- Food and Beverage
- Disinfection
- THM control
- Odor control (amines, sulphur compounds)
- Commercial and Institutional
- Microbiological control
- MRSA disinfection
- Cleaning In Place
- Hot and cold water system sterilization
- Legionella control
- Sanitation (Cleaning in Place)
- Microbiological control
- Industrial Water Treatment
- Cooling water microbiological control
- Process water microbiological control
- Waste water disinfection
- Reverse osmosis membrane fouling control
- Odor control
- Iron and manganese removal
- Phenol oxidation
- Cyanide destruction
- THM control
Application Methods:
The goal is to lightly wet the surface to be treated and allow the product to dry. Applications can be applied in several ways including:
- Traditional type pumps up or pressurized sprayers
- Spray bottles
- Handheld misters
- Backpack sprayers
- Direct application with a TwinOxide dampened cloth
- Fogging
In most cases it's best to allow the product to dry on the treated surfaces. Take extra care to thoroughly wet surfaces such as doorknobs and other frequently touched items. In the case of aerosol applications, foggers can be used to efficiently deliver airborne disinfectant.
Why TwinOxide® is more effective than other disinfectants
All disinfectants can be measured through successful kill rates based on content time and strength or solution concentration. Since its development, TwinOxide has been able to produce a high purity (99.9%), highly stable 0.3% solution of Chlorine Dioxide. This solution is highly effective at killing the full spectrum of bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, and spores.
Features and Advantages
Features
- Selective oxidizer (does not react with e.g. ammonia).
- Effective iron and manganese removal.
- Stable chlorine dioxide solution.
- Not explosive.
Main advantages
- Easily and safely produce and dose a stable chlorine dioxide solution without a generator.
- Eco-friendly and no production of carcinogenic or undesirable disinfection by-products.
- High disinfection efficiency.
- The solid TwinOxide products are easy, safe and cost effective to ship and store with a guaranteed shelf life of five years.
- No corrosion effects at use concentrations.
Environmental Advantages
- No formation of halogens (e.g. THM, HAA, MX).
- Low residual disinfectant concentrations.
- No strange taste occurrences – improved taste and improved color of water.
- Limited sewage load.
Microbiological Advantages
- Stronger, faster and efficacious microbiological destruction within a wide range of pH-value (pH 4-10).
- Many times more oxidizing power compared to chlorine products.
- Effective removal of biofilms and no resistance building by micro-organisms.
Economical Advantages
- No investment cost in production equipment.
- No construction modifications or certifications.
- No educated & trained employees and high maintenance costs required.
TwinOxide® vs. Bleach
There may be chlorine in its name, but that’s where the similarity to chlorine bleach ends. During application of TwinOxide, the chlorine dioxide molecule gets busy oxidizing to work to kill the full spectrum of bacteria, algae, fungi, spores, protozoan, yeast, methanogens, mold, biofilm and other pathogens.
Clean water can get infected in pipelines because of biofilm. In contrast with other chlorine and chlorine-type disinfectants, TwinOxide is the perfect solution to remove biofilm which is typically found in infected pipelines.
The TwinOxide 0.3% solution doesn’t contain free chlorine. The active substance is the chlorine dioxide molecule which is at least ten times more powerful than chlorine and chlorine-type disinfectants.
Chlorine dioxide has several advantages over chlorine:
- Chlorine dioxide is a more effective sanitizer in poor quality water containing high levels of organic matter and other dissolved solids.
- Chlorine dioxide effectively operates in a broader range of pH levels (4 to 10).
- Chlorine dioxide is faster-acting than chloride, especially if water pH rises.
- Chlorine dioxide has 2.6 times the oxidative power of chlorine bleach.
In contrast with other chlorine and chlorine-type disinfectants, TwinOxide is a unique, patented disinfectant that is compliant with, and authorized according to NSF, European, and other regulations.
About Big Bend Water Technologies
Big Bend Water Technologies is a division of Big Bend Industrial Sales and Service and Big Bend Agri-Services, Inc., founded in 1979 in Cairo, GA. The corporate office is located just north of Tallahassee, FL.
Big Bend Water Technologies & Specialty Services is Big Bend’s latest area of growth. This water treatment division was created in 2015 for the express purpose of offering more cost effective and more detailed service options to small and medium local accounts under-serviced by large ‘traditional’ water treatment companies.
One of the primary areas of service for the Big Bend Water Treatment Division is to provide specialty chemicals, processing agents, and general services to food packing industries.
Big Bend Water Technologies and Specialty Services is also available as a backup supplier for larger accounts. Big Bend Water Technologies is known for its ability to partner with a plant or a large water treatment company, to provide niche products, commodities, and services as needed. In some cases, the company can also provide localized storage for quick deliveries that companies located out of state have difficulty providing in a timely manner.