Our glutaraldehyde based products are superior

Introduction
The glutaraldehyde (1,5-pentanedial OCH(CH2)CHO ) -  was synthesized IN 1908.
Its formula is C₅H₈O₂ also represented as OHCH₂CH₂CH₂CHO. It may have different configurations: either the linear (see figure 1) or the cyclic one (see figure 2). The linear configuration of the molecule of GA, fixing the proteins contained in micro-organisms, is the operative one. In other words, the more linear molecules of GA in a disinfecting solution, the more stable and the more efficient the disinfectant will be.

Figure 1: the linear configuration

Unfortunately, unless stabilized, the glutaraldehyde has a tendency to adopt a cyclic configuration as shown in figure 2.



Figure 2: the cyclic configuration

Durotec has developed a stabilising process consisting in anchoring ionically  the GA to a heavy molecule of a 15 moles surfactant on the C3 in the glutaraldehyde molecule which induces the linearity of the molecule even when the pH is alkalinised. (see figure 3.)

Figure 3: Structure of glutaraldehyde after the stabilisation process

This combined with the wetting effect of the surfactant ensures that a maximum of efficient molecules of GA will reach the targeted micro-organisms.

As can now be easily understood, the harmful volatility of the traditional GA has also been brought under control. Stabilised Glutaraldehyde products can comply with the impending norm of 0.05ppm.  Stabilised glutaraldehyde can be mixed to Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QAC) to manufacture solutions with more detersive power. Unstable GA mixed with QAC does not become stable!

Maintaining a neutral pH.
The value of the pH is extremely important for the stability and the decreased volatility of the product. The neutral pH is 7. By convention, it is accepted that for the purpose of our type of application, a neutral pH may vary between 6 and 7.5. The user needs to be aware of this. It is not sufficient to putt on a label 'Neutral pH' for the pH to be neutral .... The bactericidal efficacy of products with pH lower than 6 is impaired and their corrosiveness is increased. Accelerated stability test at 50șC is a valid method to evaluate the behaviour of the product and predict its stability in time.

We achieve superior stability by the careful buffering of our products with proprietary buffering solutions. Our products are tested regularly for their pH stability and they compare most favourably to other glutaraldehyde-based products claiming stability.

Thanks to our process, the stabilised glutaraldehyde products are not altered by an increase in temperature. This cannot be said for unstable GAs mixed with QAC.

Our products are made with the highest purity GAs.

Comparative Table: Formaldehyde / Alkaline pH > 8 Glutaraldehyde / Neutral pH Glutaraldehyde.