Introduction

ELECTROLYZED WATER come in many forms. Neutral Electrolyzed Water (NEW) is pH neutral, super-oxidized water that is non-toxic and has an extended shelf life.  

ELECTROLYZED WATER is water that has had an electric current passed through it, thereby generating oxygenated water. This is an electrochemical (or oxidation-reduction) process. Specifically, it is an electrolysis process. This oxidation-reduction process is also known as Electro-Chemical Activation (ECA Technology).

In the early development of “Super-Oxidized Water”, electrolytic cells were only capable of generating small volumes of Acidic Electrolyzed Water (AEW) with a limited shelf life. In recent years, Neutral Electrolyzed Water (NEW) has been introduced as a high-level disinfectant, not corrosive and able to penetrate cell membranes more easily in comparison with Acidic Electrolyzed Water (AEW) or Sodium Hypochlorite.

ELECTROLYZED WATER is generated by electrolysis of a dilute NaCI solution passing through an electrolytic cell. ‘AEW’ has a strong bactericidal effect on most known pathogenic bacteria due to its low pH (2-4) and high oxidation-reduction potential (ORP > 1000 m V), and because it contains active oxidizers like Hydrochloric Acid, it is effective in killing food-borne pathogens in Vitro conditions and in reducing microbial counts and pathogens in vegetables.

Because of its neutral pH, 'NEW' on total microbial count obtaining reductions is superior to ‘AEW’ or Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach).

Electrolyses of molten salts

The traditional electrolysis process results in unstable oxidized water and formation of Hypochlorite (bleach).

AQUAOX utilizes Electrolytic Cells where the anode chamber is separated by a unidirectional permeable membrane from the cathode chamber. The Electrolytic Cell allows migration of ions through the membrane and separation of such ions and prevention of production of gaseous chlorine (CL₂).

An ECA electrolysis process is one in which positive and negative electrodes are submerged in a solute containing positive and negative ions.

Positive ions (cations) are drawn towards the negative electrode, where they receive electrons from the electron-rich cathode and neutral atoms or molecules are formed.

At the anode (positive electrode) negative ions (anions) are attracted, which give up their additional electrons to the electron-depleted anode.

The extra electrons from the cathode effectively flow through the solvent to the anode and an electric current flow.

There are very many reactions that may occur when water (H2O) is electrolyzed, for example (E0 is the standard redox potential)*:

O2 + H + e- HO2 E0 = - 0.13 V [1]
2H+ + 2e- H2 E0 = 0.00 V [2]
HO2 + H+ + e- H2O2 E0 = +1.50 V [3]
O3 + 2H+ + 2e- O2 + H2O E0 = +2.07 V [4]
OH- + H+ + e- H2O E0 = +2.85 V [5]
H2O + e- H+ OH- E0 = - 2.93 V [6]
OH+ e- OH- E0 = +2.02 V [7]

The equations above are not a complete list, but give examples of some of the reactions that may take place. Notably, they show that electrolysis of water may produces H⁺ and OH ions, H and OH radicals, H₂, O₂, HO₂, O₃ and the like due to redox reactions. As a direct result of electrolysis, hydrogen and ozone gas are released and a percentage of hydroxides remain in the solution in various forms including but not limited to hydrogen peroxide

The addition of sodium chloride (table salt) can lead to the following additional reactions*: 

On the cathode side

Na+ + e- Na [8]
2Na + 2H2O 2Na+ + 2OH- + H2 [9]

and at the anode side

2Cl- - 2e- Cl2 [10]

It should further be noted that the Cl₂ and OH- can react as follows*:

Cl2 + 2OH- ClO- + Cl- + H2O [11]
Cl2 + OH- HClO + Cl- [12]

Finally, while electrolyses would typically result in an unstable product (‘AEW’), the patented ECA technology presented here is a process that generates onsite 'NEW'  that consist solely of active substances HOCL and OCL^-.** 'NEW'  is highly biocidal, but has a very low chemical load (measured in free available chlorine) compared to Sodium Hypochlorite. Thus, not harmful for environment and human beings.

*the active substances in 'NEW' are solely HOCL and OCL^-.
** The quantity of HOCL and OCL^- depends on the pH of 'NEW'.

Chemistry

'NEW' is manufactured through validated processes and devices in accordance with EPA and ISO standards.  Not only 'NEW' can be produced in large volume (making onsite –production of ‘NEW’ commercial attractive. 'NEW' has also an extended shelf life as a result of using a rectified AC-voltage on a Electrolytic Flowcell. 

The general product specification of 'NEW'  is:

pH 6.2 –6.8*
Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) > 900mV
Free Available Chlorine (FAC) 300-500 ppm**
EC 5-10ppm***

*the pH of ‘NEW’ can be adjusted by the operator from acidic to alkaline.
** the amount of free available chlorine can be adjusted by the operator.
*** varies with the amount of free available chlorine

Free Available Chlorine (FAC) is essentially all chlorine species that are not combined with ammonia (or other nitrogenous compounds) to form chloramines.

 The known chemical species present in 'NEW'  are:

Hypochlorous Acid 
Sodium Hypochlorite 
Sodium Chloride

Therefore, the HOCL concentration claimed in 'NEW'  is believed to comprise of a combination of variation of chlorine ions and not necessarily HOCL.

Stability

Where the concentrations of each chemical are determined by the current density, pH and other important process parameters.

'AEW' is only stable for a few hours and are produced with Electrolytic cells that are very limited in production capacity as well as limited in lifetime.

Free available chlorine in ‘AEW’ proved to be unstable and easily evaporates from the water, causing immediately a strong chlorine smell and complicating storage, transport and usage of ‘AEW’. 'NEW' is stable for at least one month, although it is still highly recommended to use freshly generated 'NEW'.

Several parameters can be measured in order to establish the shelf life of 'NEW'  . These include pH, ORP, conductivity and FAC. 

Another commonly used method revolved around 'NEW'^’s  ability to kill spores of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium known to be amongst the most resilient to chlorine.

Today, this still proves to be a useful measurement to determine the shelf life of 'NEW', since it is ultimately this anti-microbial nature that is key to ‘NEW'^’s action as a high-level disinfectant and is believed to be a major part of its success as a disinfectant.

Microbial efficiency

Various microbial efficacy testing have been conducted by third parties on the microbial efficacy of 'NEW^'. Normally microbial efficacy is measured by suspension test

Staphylococcus aureus 
Staphylococcus epidermidis 
Enterococcus hirae  
Escherichia coli 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
Bacillus subtilis

Based on various bactericidal, fungicidal and sporicidal testing performed to date, it can be stated that all the microbial testing requirements for 'NEW' have been met or exceeded. 'NEW' proved to be a high-level disinfectant.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action for how 'NEW' eradicates these various micro-organisms is well documented both by third party resources. The mode of action is as follows:

The free ions in 'NEW' rapidly react and denature proteins. 'NEW' should not be used on protein based products, since it will react and destroy the proteins. Once 'NEW' comes in contact with a microorganism, it attacks the bacterial proteins located in the cell membranes.

'NEW'^’s superiority is in that 'NEW' will eradicate similarly the antibiotic resistant strains including MRSA and VRE. Secondly, because of the osmolarity difference (the conc. Of ion in the solution versus in the cytoplasm), ‘NEW’ will induce a rupture on the cell membrane leading to cell lysis.

Since 'NEW' consists of both HOCL and OCL^-; it is believed that the bactericidal action exhibited is due to the combination of these substances.

However, as previously noted, Sodium Hypochlorite or Gaseous Chlorine at the same concentration of that found in 'NEW' leads to slower microbial kill and more corrosion when tested per ASTM guidelines.

Toxicity

No evidence of toxicity in any form has been observed in any of the third party testing*.

Moreover, the review of relevant literature has revealed that HOCL and OCL^-, at the low doses in 'NEW' supports this and the weight of evidence is that these chemicals do not produce toxic effects.

Based on all this information, it can reasonably be concluded that 'NEW' is non-toxic and safe to use in the industries and applications considered by Aquaox.

* Data obtained from independent testing executed outside the USA by third parties .

Summary

The primary component of ‘NEW’ is Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL), the most effective element of chlorine.  ‘NEW’ is pH neutral, super-oxidized water generated by electrolysis of a dilute salt solution passing through an electrolytic cell.  This process creates large volumes of a gentle but extremely potent antimicrobial solution capable of rapid reduction of bacteria, viruses, spores, cysts, scale and biofilm. ‘NEW’ is stable, cost-effective to produce, greener than traditional chemical technologies, and can be used in multiple applications across a wide variety of industries.

‘NEW’ is an oxidizing agent due to a mixture of free radicals, giving it an antimicrobial effect. Studies have shown that ‘NEW’ is highly biocidal and can substantially reduce pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coliwithout the use of costly toxic chemicals.  In addition, it offers the added benefits of being able to remove biofilm and scale from manufacturing equipment, thus, greatly minimizing a major contributor to contamination problems. 

Because ‘NEW’ effectively destroys microorganisms, they cannot build up resistance to ‘NEW’ as they can to other sanitizers and disinfectants. Standard toxic chemicals can create strains of pathogens that become resistant over time, because the cell can expel or neutralize the chemical before it can kill it, thereby causing the overall efficacy of chemical cleaners and disinfectants to be significantly reduced.

Numerous applications have been identified in agricultural, horticultural, food processing and retail grocery venues where the produce, poultry, meat, seafood and dairy industries are particularly impacted.  ‘NEW’can be safely applied to food products, equipment and facilities using a variety of methods, including fogging, direct application or dosing.

Principle of ELECTROLYZED WATER