Electrolyzed water
Encyclopedia
Electrolysed water is produced by the electrolysis
of ordinary tap water
containing dissolved sodium chloride
. The electrolysis of such salt solutions produces a solution of sodium hypochlorite, which is the most common ingredient in store-bought household bleach.
, a weak acid and an oxidizing agent. This "acidic electrolyzed water" can be raised in pH
by mixing in the desired amount of hydroxide ion solution from the cathode compartment, yielding a solution of sodium hypochlorite NaClO which is the major component of ordinary household laundry bleach. A solution whose pH is 7.3 will contain equal concentrations of hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion; reducing the pH will shift the balance toward the acid.
EOW will kill spores and many viruses and bacteria. Sanyo
uses electrolysed water in its "virus washers".
Electrolysis units sold for industrial and institutional disinfectant use and for municipal water-treatment are known as bleach generators. These avoid the need to ship and store chlorine gas, as well as the weight penalty of shipping prepared bleach solutions.
The EPA has reviewed the data relative to EcaFlo Anolyte, a brand of electrolyzed water, developed by Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. (“IET”). After a battery of independent lab testing EcaFlo Anolyte is the only anolyte solution EPA registered as a broad spectrum hospital disinfectant.
Envirocleanse obtains EPA registration as Biocide # 84680‐1 and #85134-1
Electrolysis
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction...
of ordinary tap water
Tap water
Tap water is a principal component of "indoor plumbing", which became available in urban areas of the developed world during the last quarter of the 19th century, and common during the mid-20th century...
containing dissolved sodium chloride
Sodium chloride
Sodium chloride, also known as salt, common salt, table salt or halite, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaCl. Sodium chloride is the salt most responsible for the salinity of the ocean and of the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms...
. The electrolysis of such salt solutions produces a solution of sodium hypochlorite, which is the most common ingredient in store-bought household bleach.
Creation
The electrolysis occurs in a specially designed reactor which allows the separation of the cathodic and anodic solutions. In this process, hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions are produced at the cathode, leading to an alkaline solution that consists essentially of sodium hydroxide (lye). At the anode, chloride ions are oxidized to elemental chlorine. If some of this chlorine is allowed to combine with some of the hydroxide ions produced at the cathode, it disproportionates into hypochlorous acidHypochlorous acid
Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid with the chemical formula HClO. It forms when chlorine dissolves in water. It cannot be isolated in pure form due to rapid equilibration with its precursor...
, a weak acid and an oxidizing agent. This "acidic electrolyzed water" can be raised in pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
by mixing in the desired amount of hydroxide ion solution from the cathode compartment, yielding a solution of sodium hypochlorite NaClO which is the major component of ordinary household laundry bleach. A solution whose pH is 7.3 will contain equal concentrations of hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion; reducing the pH will shift the balance toward the acid.
Efficient disinfectant
Both sodium hydroxide and hypochlorous acid are efficient disinfecting agents; since the effectiveness of EOW seems to increase at low pH, the acidic form of EOW is usually preferred for rinsing food-preparation surfaces, fruits and vegetables.EOW will kill spores and many viruses and bacteria. Sanyo
Sanyo
is a major electronics company and member of the Fortune 500 whose headquarters is located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo targets the middle of the market and has over 230 Subsidiaries and Affiliates....
uses electrolysed water in its "virus washers".
Electrolysis units sold for industrial and institutional disinfectant use and for municipal water-treatment are known as bleach generators. These avoid the need to ship and store chlorine gas, as well as the weight penalty of shipping prepared bleach solutions.
EPA Registration
Although the field of electro-chemical activation (“ECA”) technology has existed for more than 40 years, companies producing anolyte solutions have only recently approached the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking registration. This is due to the lack of advances in equipment that can reliably deliver the solutions in the consistent, repeatable manner needed to meet and pass the battery of various EPA product registration tests.The EPA has reviewed the data relative to EcaFlo Anolyte, a brand of electrolyzed water, developed by Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. (“IET”). After a battery of independent lab testing EcaFlo Anolyte is the only anolyte solution EPA registered as a broad spectrum hospital disinfectant.
Envirocleanse obtains EPA registration as Biocide # 84680‐1 and #85134-1
Drawbacks
Electrolyzed water loses its potency fairly quickly, so it cannot be stored for long. Electrolysis machines are expensive. The electrolysis process needs to be monitored frequently for the correct potency.See also
- Disinfectant
- Electrolysis of waterElectrolysis of waterElectrolysis of water is the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen gas due to an electric current being passed through the water.-Principle:...
- Water ionizerWater ionizerA water ionizer is an appliance that ionizes water. Although there is no empirical evidence that ionized water is beneficial to human health, it is marketed with claims that it is an antioxidant and can slow aging and prevent disease...
- ElectrodeionizationElectrodeionizationElectrodeionization is usually considered a water treatment technology that utilizes an electrode to ionize water molecules and separate dissolved ions from water...