Applications
The applications are extremely wide ranging, from disinfectant formulations, such as being an active ingredient in Dettol and Lysol brand products, to microbial corrosion inhibition in the oilfield sector, and a multi-surface mould, algae and moss remover. It is used in:
- Pharmaceuticals such as leave-on skin antiseptics.
- Antiseptic in Bactine to safely treat childhood scrapes and cuts
- Advanced, next-generation hand sanitizers, qore24 hand sanitiser.
- Personal care products such as eye, ear and nasal drops, as a preservative
- Hygienic towelettes and wet wipes
- Cleaners for floor and hard surfaces as a disinfectant
- High-level surgical instrument sterilizing and disinfection solutions
- Air and surface sprayable disinfectants
- Over-the-counter herpes cold sore and fever blister single-application treatments such as RELEEV and Viroxyn
- Algaecide
Benzalkonium chloride and other alcohol-free solutions are often used in preparations used for skin disinfection prior to use of syringes.
New generation, plant-derived versions are used in hand sanitizers that are more effective and safer than alcohol gels. As an antiseptic, it has the advantage of not burning when put on a wound, which is not the case with ethanol-based antiseptics or hydrogen peroxide. As the antiseptic in Bactine, benzalkonium chloride has been used safely for decades on childhood scrapes and cuts.
Read more about this topic: Benzalkonium Chloride