Disinfectant Devices

Disinfecting devices are designed to kill pathogens and other types of microorganisms by chemical or physical means. Disinfectant devices can kill most known pathogenic microorganisms, but not necessarily all forms of microbes, such as bacterial spores.

Common household disinfection devices include chemical/physical disinfectants, e.g.:

Air disinfectants are typically chemical substances capable of disinfecting microorganisms suspended in the air

Alcohol is a proven disinfectant and surface disinfectant

Oxidizing agents act by oxidizing the cell membrane of microorganisms, which results in a loss of structure and leads to cell lysis and death

Peroxycarboxylic acids and inorganic peroxo acids are strong oxidants and extremely effective disinfectants.

Phenolics are active ingredients in some household disinfectants. They are also found in some mouthwashes and in disinfectant soap and handwashes

Quaternary ammonia at or above 200ppm plus alcohol solutions exhibit efficacy against difficult to kill non-enveloped viruses such as norovirus, rotavirus, or polio virus

Inorganic compounds: Chlorine, Iodine, Acids and bases, Metals, Terpenes

Non-chemical: Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation is the use of high-intensity shortwave ultraviolet light for disinfecting smooth surfaces such as dental tools, but not porous materials that are opaque to the light such as wood or foam

Electrostatic Disinfection: Sprayers or Air ionizers are often used in places where work is carried out on electronic components that are sensitive to static electricity, to eliminate the build-up of electrostatic charges on non-conductive components.