ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

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 ABSTRACT

Antiseptics and disinfectants are extensively used in hospitals and other health care settings for a

variety of topical and hard-surface applications. A wide variety of active chemical agents

(biocides) are found in these products, many of which have been used for hundreds of years,

including alcohols, phenols, iodine, and chlorine.

This report talks about antiseptics and disinfectants, their mode of action, chemical agent and

also discuss 3 major antiseptics and disinfectants, their mode of preparation, harmful effects and

their mode of action.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 INTRODUCTION

 ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANT

 MODE OF ACTION OF ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

 HOW TO MAKE ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTSNFECTANT

 IZAL

 DETTOL

 CHLORINE BLEACH

 RESULTS

 PROTECTIVE MEASURES WHEN PREPARING ANTISEPTICS

 REFERENCES

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 INTRODUCTION

This report focuses on the chemistry, mode of action and how to prepare different types of

antiseptics and disinfectants.

ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

An antiseptic is a substance that stops or slows down the growth of microorganisms. Antiseptics

and disinfectants are extensively used in hospitals, at home, and other health care settings for a

variety of topical and hard-surface applications.

A wide variety of active chemical agents are found in these products, many of which have been

used for hundreds of years, including alcohols, phenols, iodine, and chlorine.

Antiseptics are very diverse in their use and applications. They can be used as bacteriocidal (kills

bacteria) or bacteriostatic (stops the growth of bacteria). Their uses include cleansing of skin and

wound surfaces after injury, preparation of skin surfaces prior to injections or surgical

procedures, and routine disinfection of the oral cavity as part of a program of oral hygiene.

Antiseptics are also used for disinfection of inanimate objects, including instruments and

furniture surfaces.

Commonly used antiseptics include hydrogen peroxides, mercury compounds, alcohol, iodine

compounds, hexachlorophine, chlorohexadine etc.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

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Antiseptics are chemical agents that disrupts or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on a living

tissue while disinfectants are chemical agents that are used on non-living surfaces or inanimate

objects.

MODE OF ACTION OF ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

A wide variety of active chemical agents are found in antiseptics and disinfectants, many of

which has been in use for hundreds of years. Despite this, not much is known about the mode of

actions of this chemical agents. Examples of chemical agents found in antiseptics include

 Fomaldehyde

 Hydrogen peroxide

 Cresol

 Phenol

 Ethylene oxide

 Triclosan

 Hexachlorophene

 Texapon

 Propamindine and many more .

This chemical agents work by deactivating microorganisms, they may be “static” (inhibit growth

of microorganisms) or “cidal” (kill target microorganisms).

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Each Chemical agent has a different mode of action, Hydrogen peroxides work by creating free

hydroxyl radicals which oxidize the thiol group in enzyme and proteins of microorganisms,

formaldehyde causes cross linking of DNA, RNA and proteins.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ANTISEPTICS

While antiseptics are good for protection against microorganisms, they do have some nasty side

effects which when experienced tends to have a severe expression.

Examples of the side effects include

 Skin Rash

 Angioedema

 Hives
 Itching
 Skin Inflammation
 Skin Redness etc.

However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor

or get medical help if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

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 HOW TO MAKE ANTISEPTICS AND DISINFECTANTS

IZAL
Izal is one of the common germicides used regularly at home, it is highly concentrated and very effective

when used in toilet cleaning, floor tiles and other surfaces.

Their uses include cleansing of skin and wound surfaces after injury, preparation of skin surfaces

prior to injections or surgical procedures, and routine disinfection of the oral cavity as part of a

program of oral hygiene. Antiseptics are also used for disinfection of inanimate objects,

including instruments and furniture surfaces.

Ingredients

 140 ml of carbolic acid

 130 ml of Lysol

 140 ml of Phenol

 2 grams of Texapon

 100 ml of pine oil

 4 liters of water

 200 ml of Izal booster

 140 ml of Izal concentrate

 5 grams of whitener

This will give approximately 5 liters of izal

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 MIXING THE INGRDIENTS

1 Combine Texapon and water in a plastic bucket. Measure out 4 liters of water and pour it

into the plastic bucket. Add 2 grams of Texapon to the water and stir the mixture carefully with a

chemical-safe spoon or lab stirrer. Keep stirring until the Texapon is completely dissolved.

 The mixture will get slightly frothy as you stir it.

 Texapon is a sodium laureth sulfate frequently used in detergents, soaps, and shampoos.

It is usually white and comes in crystal, flake, or powder form.

 Texapon can severely irritate the skin, eyes, lungs, and nasal passageways.

2 Add the Phenol to the mixture and stir thoroughly. Carefully measure out 140 ml of

Phenol and pour it into the mixture in your bucket. Stir the ingredients with your chemical-safe

stirrer until they're well combined. The mixture will continue to look frothy and may get frothier

as you stir in the Phenol.

 Phenol is commercially available in liquid form and is commonly used in disinfectants

and other consumer products. It's usually clear or light yellow in color.

 Phenol can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, and eye irritation. Contact with skin

can cause chemical burns.

3 Add the Lysol liquid to the mixture and stir continuously. Measure out 130 ml of Lysol

and add it to the mixture in the bucket. Stir continuously as you add the chemical so that it

combines completely with the other ingredients.

 Lysol liquid is commonly available in grocery stores. It is a powerful germicide, and the

liquid may look light pink or yellow in color.

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4 Pour the carbolic acid into the mixture and keep stirring. Measure out 140 ml of liquid

carbolic acid and add it to the mixture in the bucket. Keep stirring so that the carbolic acid

combines with the other ingredients. Continuous stirring is crucial, since it encourages the

necessary chemical reaction to take place quickly. Carbolic acid is highly corrosive and toxic.

Breathing in the vapors can damage the upper respiratory tract and skin contact may cause

chemical burns.

5 Stir in the pine oil. Measure out 100 ml of pine oil and pour it into the mixture. Stir

thoroughly to combine the ingredients in the mixture. Be careful not to create any splash back as

you stir. Pine oil is a highly concentrated essential oil obtained from pine trees. It is commonly

used as a germicide and disinfectant in commercial products.

6 Add the Izal booster to the mixture. Measure out 200 ml of Izal booster and carefully pour

it into the bucket with the other ingredients. Stir continuously as you add the booster and

continue stirring after you've poured it in. The solution should still look frothy. Izal booster is a

milky-looking chemical that boosts the properties of the other chemicals.

7 Pour the Izal concentrate into the bucket and keep stirring. Measure out 140 ml of the

Izal concentrate liquid and dump it into the bucket. Continue stirring throughout the entire

process. Izal concentrate is a light pink liquid and highly irritating to the skin and mucus

membranes.

8 Measure out the whitener and stir it into the mixture. Pour 5 grams of whitener into the

bucket as you continue to stir the solution. Keep stirring until the ingredients are fully combined.

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Essentially, this substance binds all of the ingredients in the mixture together and creates a

whitening effect on surfaces. It's usually sold in powder or tablet form.

Straining and Storing the Mixture

1 Pour the Izal through a fine mesh strainer to remove particles. Your finished Izal may

have small particles or lumps in it. You can easily remove these solids by pouring the mixture

through a fine mesh strainer or sieve into another large plastic bucket

2 Use the Izal to clean toilets, tiles, and other hard surfaces. Izal disinfects hard surfaces

and also produces a bleaching or whitening effect. It's extremely effective at removing germs

from toilets, tile, hard flooring, kitchen counters, and so on. Use the cleaner to mop and wipe

down surfaces.

o Izal is frequently used to disinfect commercial spaces like hospitals, hotels,

restaurants, offices, and schools.

o Wear plastic gloves when cleaning with Izal to protect your skin.

3 Store any leftover solution in heavy-duty plastic containers. Use a large funnel to transfer

the leftover cleaner from the plastic bucket into heavy-duty plastic storage containers with air-

tight lids. Store Izal at room temperature out of the reach of children and pets.

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 DETTOL

Dettol is a general name for a household antiseptic disinfectant which has been in the world since

1936. Dettol is found in every market in many countries of the world such as America, Australia,

Canada, United Kingdom, India, and in many African countries including Nigeria.

Ingredients

1. Texapon

2. Phenol

3. Chloroxylenol

4. I.P.A

5. Pine oil

6. Castor oil

7. Colorant little or as desired.

8. Water

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DETTOL INGREDIENTS AND THEIR MODE OF ACTION

Some of the chemicals found in Dettol and their uses are:

Texapon: It is a surfactant or detergent that forms micelles which allows non polar substance

like oils to be dissolved in water. It acts basically the same as many other liquid soaps that are

formed from saponification of various triglycerides.

Phenol: Phenol is an organic compound or solvent that contains the hydroxyl-OH group attached

to benzene ring. It is an aromatic compound classified as an alcohol and it is colorless and has

sweet odour. Phenol is used in low concentration as a disinfectant in household Dettol and also

in mouthwash. This is also called carbolic acid even though carbolic acid is liquid.

Chloroxylenol: This chemical is the antibacterial in Dettol which kills germs and reduces

inflammation. Chloroxylenol is the main antiseptic ingredient in Dettol with the highest

percentage of about 4.8 of the mixture that makes up Dettol; other percentage is gotten from pine

oil, phenol, castor oil, isopropyl alcohol and water. One has to be very careful when using it

because it could cause mild skin irritation, such as rash, swelling of face, mouth, itchy throat or

tongue, blisters, peeling of skin and difficulty in breathing and please seek medical attention if

this occurs to you.

I.P.A (Isopropyl Alcohol): This is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with strong

odour, it contains an antiseptic effect, which gives Dettol the ability to kill bacteria, and fungi

especially when used for wound cleansing.

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Pine oil: Pine oil is gotten from pine tree and is extracted from the cone, twigs and needles of the

pine tree. When the oil is diluted in water, it forms a cloudy liquid (this also happen when you

use a drop of Dettol in water). Pine oil has an antiseptic and disinfectant substance and a pleasant

odour.

Castor oil: This stabilizes the carbolic acid in the antiseptic solution and makes it not to revert to

the solid state.

Water: Water is used as a solvent.

Directions and Steps on how to produce Homemade Dettol Disinfectant Liquid

 Step 1: Gently Pour the texapon into a big empty bowl and dissolve the phenol in it

 Step 2: Add the pine oil and stir properly

 Step3: Add chloroxylenol and stir also

 Step 4: Add I.P.A (Isopropanol)

 Step 5: Add the castor oil and stir properly

 Step 5: Pour the water into the content and stir it very well

 Step 6: Dissolve the colour in water and add to it, mix it properly and leave to settle for a

while before packaging it. Note that the colour should be added last.

To know if your Dettol is well formulated, it should be able to form a milky emulsion of oil

droplet when it is diluted in water.

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 Harmful effects of Dettol

 Dettol is harmful to humans when swallowed and it could cause lethal toxicity and it is

poisonous when intentionally inhale always read the label before using it.

 Dettol is also toxic to many animals especially cats as a result of phenol content. Cats are

unable to eliminate the toxins following ingestion, a cat may swallow the product by

licking his paws after they have come in contact with it.

 Dettol can cause allergic reactions to skin. It could cause acne on the skin, but this does

not happen with everybody, only on some people. Most times, the reaction is as a result

of adding excess in bathing water.

 Always clean off with clean water after disinfecting your kitchen as the chemicals used in

making Dettol disinfectant are poisonous to man when inhaled and it is not proper to

come in contact with food items.

 Never use Dettol for washing of Plates or anything that requires swallowing

Importance and Uses of Dettol

Dettol comes in different forms that you could use to suit most purpose of protecting yourself

and Family. You could get the Dettol body cream, or Dettol hand wash for sanitizing the hands

or the Dettol spray that you could spray within the room or any surfaces.

Uses of Dettol at home

 You can add a small quantity of Dettol in a bucket of water for washing of clothes and

other linens. It helps to protect you from stubborn germs that are resistant to detergents.

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 This is especially good in protecting your baby by using it to wash the baby's wears,

socks and cleaning the bed.

 Dettol can be used for cleaning of surfaces. Children are prone to infections because they

are yet develop a strong immunity to infections. This is the reason why mothers are

advised to keep the child's environment clean, especially in children that erupting their

dentition (teeth). This is because, the new tooth itches them and hence anything the pick

on the ground, they will take it to the mouth. This can transmit infections and therefore, it

is good the mother clean the surroundings, the toys, the beds properly with a disinfectant

or antiseptic in order to protect the child.

 For people suffering from diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB), or those that are prone to

respiratory infections, then Dettol spray will be good to use within the room to help

protect those around the person with TB or to kill the germs in the air that cause

respiratory infections. Please note that it should not be used directly on the body.

 After moving out of the home, we often come in contact with various kinds of people

with different infections; we do hug them, shake hands with them and through all these,

we tend to pick up germs from them. It is therefore recommended that you wash your

hands with antiseptics such as Dettol when you come back home. This can go along way

to preventing the spread of diseases

 Dettol can also be used in cleaning of the inner surfaces of cars, windows, doors,

cupboards and any surface that we can come in contact with.

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 Chlorine Bleach

Chlorine bleach is a combination of chemical solutions and water. The mixture is used in various

formats to whiten materials, wash laundry and materials and to disinfect objects and surfaces.

The elements used to make the substance include chlorine, caustic soda and water. The chlorine

and caustic soda create a solution known as sodium hypochlorite, which is a hazardous

substance.

The broad-spectrum effectiveness of most bleaches is due to their general chemical reactivity

against organic compounds, rather than the selective inhibitory or toxic actions of antibiotics.

They irreversibly denature or destroy many proteins, making them extremely versatile

disinfectants.

However, hypochlorite bleaches in low concentration were found to also attack bacteria by

interfering with heat shock proteins on their walls.

The safety of bleaches depends on the compounds present, and their concentration. Generally

speaking, ingestion of bleaches will cause damage to the esophagus and stomach, possibly

leading to death. On contact with the skin or eyes, it causes irritation, drying, and potentially

burns. Inhalation of bleach fumes can damage the lungs. Personal protective equipment should

always be used when using bleach. Bleach should never be mixed with vinegar or products

containing ammonia as this will create highly toxic chlorine gas and can cause severe burns

internally and externally.

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INGREDIENTS

The raw materials for making household bleach are chlorine, caustic soda, and water. The

chlorine and caustic soda are produced by putting direct current electricity through a sodium

chloride salt solution in a process called electrolysis. Sodium chloride, common table salt, comes

from either mines or underground wells. The salt is dissolved in hot water to form a salt solution,

which is then treated for impurities before it is reacted in the electrolytic cell.

PREPARATION OF BLEACH

Step 1

Obtain the sodium hypochlorite chemical solution through a distributor or manufacturer. You

will only need a small bottle as your final solution will be predominately water.

Gather other materials as well, which include protective gloves, an opaque, plastic container for

storage, a label or marker for labeling and water.

For a safer alternative, produce non-chlorine bleach by replacing the sodium hypochlorite

chemical with hydrogen peroxide, which is readily available at your local grocery or pharmacy

retailer.

Step 2

Find a well-ventilated area to mix ingredients as the fumes produced can be toxic.

Step 3

Clear the area of other liquids or solutions. There is a danger of toxic gases forming when the

solution combines with specific liquids, specifically acids or alkalis (such as vinegar or

ammonia). Read warnings on consumer product labels to avoid such dangers.

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Step 4

To mix chlorine bleach combine 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and 94.75 percent water. To

mix non-chlorine bleach, combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water.

Pour mixture into the plastic container, and secure tightly. Shake to mix ingredients.

Step 5

Be sure to label or use marker to note the substance in the appropriate container. Due to the

handling safety, it is important to easily identify the substance for you and other household

members.

Step 6

Use chlorine bleach to clean and whiten fabrics through a chemical reaction that breaks down

colors and stains in fabrics. Remove the broken down particles by washing the material or

clothing.

HEALTH HAZARDS OF BLEACH

The safety of bleaches depends on the compounds present, and their concentration. Generally

speaking, ingestion of bleaches will cause damage to the esophagus and stomach, possibly

leading to death. On contact with the skin or eyes, it causes irritation, drying, and potentially

burns. Inhalation of bleach fumes can damage the lungs. Personal protective equipment should

always be used when using bleach. Bleach should never be mixed with vinegar or products

containing ammonia as this will create highly toxic chlorine gas and can cause severe burns

internally and externally.

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MODE OF ACTION OF CHLORINE BLEACH

Whitening

Colors of natural organic materials typically arise from organic pigments, such as beta carotene.

Chemical bleaches work in one of two ways:

 An oxidizing bleach works by breaking the chemical bonds that make up the

chromophore. This changes the molecule into a different substance that either does not

contain a chromophore, or contains a chromophore that does not absorb visible light. This

is the mechanism of bleaches based on chlorine but also of oxygen-anions which react

through initial nucleophilic attack.

 A reducing bleach works by converting double bonds in the chromophore into single

bonds. This eliminates the ability of the chromophore to absorb visible light. This is the

mechanism of bleaches based on sulfur dioxide.

Sunlight acts as a bleach through a process leading to similar results: high energy photons of

light, often in the violet or ultraviolet range, can disrupt the bonds in the chromophore, rendering

the resulting substance colorless. Extended exposure often leads to massive discoloration usually

reducing the colors to white and typically very faded blue.[14]

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Antimicrobial efficacy

The broad-spectrum effectiveness of most bleaches is due to their general chemical reactivity

against organic compounds, rather than the selective inhibitory or toxic actions of antibiotics.

They irreversibly denature or destroy many proteins, making them extremely versatile

disinfectants.

However, hypochlorite bleaches in low concentration were found to also attack bacteria by

interfering with heat shock proteins on their walls.

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 Results

Antiseptics can very effective as an antimicrobial agent, they can destroy or stop the growth of

all type of microorganisms and can be easily prepared at home in less than 24hrs.

They can also be harmful to health and pose great danger when ingested or on contact with eyes

and skin cause irritation, drying and burns, They should always be kept in a clean and dry area

away from children and sunlight.

Antiseptics should always be prepared in a well ventilated area and safety equipment should

always be used when preparing any kind of antiseptics

PRECAUTIONS WHEN PREPARING ANTISEPTICS

 Put on protective googles, a dust mask, and disposable plastic gloves. The chemicals

used to make antiseptics are strong, so it's important to take proper safety precautions.

Cover your nose with a dust mask so that you don't breathe in the harmful vapors.

Additionally, wear plastic eye goggles and put on disposable plastic gloves to protect

your skin.

o Keep a fully stocked first aid kit nearby in case you need to treat minor chemical

burns. Working with these chemicals is not advised if you have asthma or other

breathing problems.

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 Set up your workspace in a well-ventilated area. Mixing ingredients for antiseptics

sometimes creates potent chemical fumes. Be sure to set up your workspace on a flat,

stable surface near an open window, or in a large room with plenty of air circulation. You

can turn on a ceiling fan or place a box fan in the open window to improve air circulation.

o Don't work near open flames. These chemicals are highly flammable.

o Choose a workspace that children can't access. Store unused chemicals out of

reach of children.

 Use proper lab equipment, mixing utensils, and well-packaged chemicals. You will

need a 10-15 liter plastic bucket, measuring utensils, and a variety of chemical-safe

stirring utensils for this project. You can buy the required chemicals and tools from

reputable suppliers or chemical wholesalers. Always buy chemicals that are quality-

control tested and packaged properly.

o If you don't have a good working knowledge of a basic lab setup or previous

experience mixing chemicals together, you may want to reconsider this project.

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 REFRENCES

 Easy Ways to Make Izal: 14 Steps - wikiHow

 How bleach is made - material, manufacture, making, history, used, components, steps, product, industry

 Dettol Antiseptic Disinfectant Liquid | Dettol

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC88911/

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