Quaternary ammonium: what it is, what it is for and which products contain it
Quaternary ammonium compounds are the basis of many surface disinfectants. Here you will find what they are, how they are used and which Instaquim products contain them, with the substance, concentration and registration number as stated on the technical data sheet.
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What quaternary ammonium is
Quaternary ammonium compounds are cationic surfactants with biocidal action. The one most present in the Instaquim range is didecyldimethylammonium chloride, contained, for example, in Bacter, InstaBact® 3000 or Bacter 200; InstaBact® DS Plus uses an alkyl benzyldimethylammonium chloride.
A product containing quaternary ammonium can only be used as a disinfectant if it is registered for that use, and always with the dosage and contact time on its label: for example, InstaBact® 3000 at 2 % for 5 minutes as a bactericide, according to its data sheet.
Instaquim products with quaternary ammonium
Disinfectant detergent
Cleans and disinfects
- Bacter — 4 % (bactericidal, 5 min); 5 % (virucidal)
- eqo Bacter Desinfectante — 4 % / 5 %, with dilution station
Ready to use
Spray
- InstaBact® DS — neat, at least 5 min
- InstaBact® DS Plus — neat from 40 cm; 5 or 15 min
All registered disinfectants, by chemistry and use, in the professional disinfectants guide.
Substance, concentration and registration of each product
| Product | Quaternary ammonium (data sheet) | Registration no. | Dosage and time per data sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacter | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride 4.5 % | 22-20/90-04313 and 19-20/90-04313 HA | 4 % 5 min (bactericidal); 5 % (virucidal, enveloped viruses) |
| eqo Bacter Desinfectante | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride 4.5 % | 19-20/90-04313 HA | 4 % 5 min (bactericidal); 5 % (virucidal, enveloped viruses) |
| InstaBact® 3000 | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride 4.5 % | 22-20/40-11678 and 22-20/40-11678-HA | 2 % 5 min (bactericidal); 2 % 15 min (bactericidal and fungicidal) |
| InstaBact® DS | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride 1.00 % + isopropyl alcohol | 20-20/40-10631 and 20-20/40-10631-HA | Neat, at least 5 min |
| InstaBact® DS Plus | Alkyl (C12-C16) benzyldimethylammonium chloride 0.008 % + ethanol 65 % | 25-20/40/90-12659 | Neat, 5 min (bactericidal and virucidal) or 15 min (and fungicidal) |
| Bacter 200 | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride 4.5 % | 21-100-04598 | 0.2–0.4 % every 7 days (start-up); 0.1–0.2 % weekly |
| Sanitex | Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (cationic surfactants 5–15 %) | — | 4 g/kg of dry laundry, penultimate rinse |
Always read the label. The dosage and contact time in this table are those of each technical data sheet; a disinfectant is only effective and legal under the conditions of its registration.
Who this range is for
Food industry
Bacter, InstaBact® 3000 and DS Plus for surfaces and equipment (HA registrations).
Care homes, hotels and offices
InstaBact® DS, ready to use, for contact surfaces.
Laundries
Sanitex for laundry hygiene during washing.
Cooling towers
Bacter 200 against Legionella. See legionella control.
Frequently asked questions about quaternary ammonium
What is quaternary ammonium?
A family of cationic surfactants with biocidal action, used as the active ingredient in many surface disinfectants. In the Instaquim range the most common one is didecyldimethylammonium chloride.
What is quaternary ammonium used for?
As a disinfectant for surfaces and equipment when the product is registered for that use. For example, InstaBact® 3000 is bactericidal and fungicidal, with activity against enveloped viruses, according to its data sheet.
What dosage of quaternary ammonium is used?
The one on each product's label, not that of the substance. InstaBact® 3000 is used at 2 % for 5 minutes as a bactericide; Bacter at 4 % for 5 minutes as a bactericide and at 5 % as a virucide against enveloped viruses.
Is there a ready-to-use quaternary ammonium disinfectant?
InstaBact® DS, with 1 % didecyldimethylammonium chloride and isopropyl alcohol, which is applied neat and left to act for at least 5 minutes; and InstaBact® DS Plus, ethanol-based, which is sprayed from about 40 cm.
Is it used on laundry?
Sanitex is a concentrated quaternary ammonium-based product for laundry hygiene in professional washing: 4 g per kg of dry laundry in the penultimate rinse.
Do you supply industry and distributors?
Yes. We have been manufacturing at our plant in Vic since 1990. See the distribution programme.
Do you need a quaternary ammonium disinfectant?
Tell us where you will use it (food industry, contact surfaces, laundry, cooling towers) and we will recommend the registered product, with its data sheet and factory price.
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