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Comparison and analysis of disinfection ability of slightly acidic electrolytic water and strongly acidic electrolytic water

2025-03-13 16:08:01

Comparison and analysis of disinfection capabilities of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) and strongly acidic electrolyzed water (AEW)

1. Basic definition and comparison of physical and chemical properties

index

Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW)

Strong Acid Electrolyzed Water (AEW)

pH Range             

5.0~6.5 (close to neutral)

<3.0 (strong acid)

Available chlorine concentration

40~80 mg/L (mainly HClO)

50~70 mg/L (mainly HClO, some Cl₂)

Redox potential

≥600 mV

≥1100 mV

Preparation method

Electrolysis of dilute hydrochloric acid or sodium chloride solution (mainly non-diaphragm electrolytic cell)

Electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride or hydrochloric acid solution (diaphragm electrolyzer required)

stability

Hypochlorous acid is easy to decompose and needs to be used immediately after preparation, but a pH close to neutral can slow down the decomposition.

High stability at high ORP and low pH, but residual Cl₂ may increase environmental load

Sensory properties

Colorless and transparent, slight chlorine smell, non-irritating

Colorless and transparent, the chlorine smell is more obvious, and the low pH may cause temporary irritation to the skin


2. Comparison and analysis of disinfection capabilities

bactericidal mechanism
of both is hypochlorous acid (HClO) , which has a small molecular weight and is electrically neutral. It can penetrate the cell membrane of microorganisms and destroy proteins, nucleic acids and enzyme systems through oxidation. However, the existence form is significantly affected by pH:

SAEW : At pH 5.0-6.5, HClO accounts for more than 80%, and its bactericidal efficacy is 80-150 times that of ClO⁻.

AEW : When pH <3.0, the proportion of HClO decreases, but high ORP (≥1100 mV) enhances the ability of oxidative damage, which may be accompanied by the synergistic effect of Cl₂.

Bactericidal efficiency and broad spectrum

SAEW : The killing rate of common pathogens such as Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Salmonella can reach 99.9%, and the action time is short (30 seconds to 5 minutes). Experiments show that when the effective chlorine concentration is 40 mg/L, the qualified rate of SAEW for dental chair water disinfection is more than 98%.

AEW : It has better killing effect on spores , viruses (such as norovirus, HIV) and drug-resistant bacteria (such as MRSA), and the action time can be shortened to 30 seconds. However, it is sensitive to organic matter and needs to be pre-treated with alkaline electrolyzed water.

Relationship between concentration and bactericidal effect

SAEW : Low concentrations (10~40 mg/L) can achieve efficient sterilization and is suitable for food residue control (residual chlorine ≤4 mg/L).

AEW : A high available chlorine concentration (50-70 mg/L) needs to be maintained to offset the effect of low pH on the stability of HClO.


3. Differences in application scenarios

Application Areas

Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW)

Strong Acid Electrolyzed Water (AEW)

Medical field

Endoscope cleaning, wound disinfection, oral treatment table water disinfection

Surgical instrument pretreatment, wound treatment, and methicillin-resistant bacteria killing

Food Processing

Fruit and vegetable washing, food contact surface disinfection (no risk of chlorine residue)

To disinfect highly contaminated utensils (such as knives and cutting boards), alkaline water is required to remove organic matter.

Public Health

Air disinfection, skin and mucous membrane disinfection (high safety)

Final disinfection of the environment (such as post-epidemic site treatment)

Environmental protection and cost

Degrades quickly, leaves no residue, suitable for continuous production scenarios

Cl₂ emissions need to be controlled, and equipment maintenance costs are high


4. Summary of advantages and disadvantages

Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW) Advantages :

· High safety : pH is close to neutral, can directly contact skin, mucous membranes and food, non-corrosive.

· Good environmental protection : hypochlorous acid naturally degrades into water and inorganic salts, without the risk of trihalomethanes (THMs) generation.

· Wide applicability : suitable for fields that are sensitive to residues (such as food preservation and oral medicine).

limitation :

· The stability is poor and needs to be used immediately after preparation.

· The ability to kill spores and viruses is weaker than AEW.

Advantages of Strong Acid Electrolyzed Water (AEW) :

· High sterilization intensity : High ORP and Cl₂ work synergistically, suitable for high pollution scenarios.

· Fast and efficient : kills most pathogens within 30 seconds.

limitation :

· Highly corrosive : There is a risk of corrosion to metal equipment (such as aluminum and copper).

· Complex operation : Organic matter needs to be pretreated and Cl₂ emissions need to be controlled.


V. Conclusion and Recommendations

Selection Criteria:

  • For rapid spore or virus inactivation, or in environments with high organic contaminationAcidic Electrolyzed Water (AEW) is the preferred choice due to its strong oxidizing properties and fast-acting disinfection capabilities.

  • For scenarios prioritizing safety and environmental friendliness (e.g., food processing or medical contact applications)Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water (SAEW) is more suitable, as it offers a milder yet effective disinfection solution with minimal risk to humans and the environment.

Summary of Findings:
The comparison above highlights that both slightly acidic and strongly acidic electrolyzed water have distinct advantages and are suited to different application scenarios. The differences in their disinfection efficacy primarily stem from variations in pH levels, the forms of available chlorine, and their adaptability to specific environmental conditions.

Recommendations:
In practical applications, it is essential to evaluate the specific requirements of the situation and scientifically select the most appropriate disinfection solution. By aligning the choice of electrolyzed water with the unique needs of the environment or industry, optimal disinfection outcomes can be achieved while ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability.


 

Chlory Hypochlorous Acid Generator Technological Breakthrough

The hypochlorous acid generator launched by Chlory uses advanced electrolysis technology, which can efficiently convert common salt (NaCl) and water into hypochlorous acid water through electrolysis reaction. The equipment has the following technical highlights:

Intelligent control: The equipment is equipped with an intelligent control system that can automatically adjust the concentration of hypochlorous acid according to water quality and flow to ensure the best disinfection effect.

High efficiency and energy saving: It adopts high-efficiency electrolyzer design with low energy consumption and high yield, which is suitable for large-scale water treatment applications.

Modular design: The equipment has a compact structure, is easy to install and maintain, and can be flexibly expanded according to customer needs.

Remote monitoring: Supports Internet of Things technology. Users can monitor the operating status of the device in real time through mobile phones or computers and achieve remote management.

Extended service life of disinfectant: Special electrolyte + reliable electrolysis technology achieves a major advantage of 1-2 years service life of hypochlorous acid solution.

 

Chlory hypochlorous acid generator has been successfully used in many fields, including:

Municipal water supply: used for disinfection in water plants to ensure the safety of drinking water.

Swimming pool water treatment: replace traditional chlorine disinfection, reduce irritating odor and improve user experience.

Food processing industry: used for disinfection of equipment and production lines to ensure food safety.

Agricultural irrigation: Kill pathogens in irrigation water and improve crop yield and quality.

 

Industry response

The launch of Chlory hypochlorous acid generator has been highly praised by industry experts and users. The head of a large water plant said: "Chlory's hypochlorous acid generator not only improves disinfection efficiency, but also significantly reduces operating costs. It is the best choice for our water treatment process upgrade."

 

Future Outlook

As the world pays more and more attention to water safety, the market demand for hypochlorous acid water as a green and environmentally friendly disinfectant will continue to grow. Chlory said that it will continue to increase its R&D investment in the future and launch more innovative products to provide more efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for the global water treatment industry.


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For more information about BLUEWAV and hypochlorous acid generators, visit www.bluewav.com or contact info@bluewaVv.com

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