What is HOCl?

HOCl, Hypochlorous Acid, is the combined element of Hydrogen, Oxygen and Chlorine.  EnviroNize® HOCl is safely produced by way of an electrolyzed brine solution with formula specific controls and setpoints. In our bodies, HOCl is produced inside white blood cells and once formed, it becomes one of the fundamental mechanisms of our human defense system – battling pathogens and bacteria within our body to maintain overall health.

 

How does HOCl kill microbial pathogens?

The molecule of hypochlorous acid is HOCl. This molecule is unique in that it is neutrally charged unlike hypochlorite (OCl-) which is negatively charged. This is important as disinfectants and microbial pathogens interact with each other similar to magnets. If you bring together two negatively charged magnets, they will repel each other. Bacteria and hypochlorite (OCl- bleach) are both negatively charged and behave like two negatively charged magnets repelling each other. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is neutrally charged and is not repelled by bacteria. HOCl easily penetrates the walls of the bacteria and destroys them with its strong oxidation potential.  

 

Hypochlorous Acid is a strong oxidiser. It is destructive to pathogens and fungi because of its high “Redox Potential”. Hypochlorous Acid robs electrons from bacteria thus destroying it. With pathogens, HOCl reacts with and destroys the cell wall causing necrosis (rupturing of the cell) or apoptosis (programmed cell death). Anything left of the cell contents are then also destroyed by the HOCl. Even though a virus is considered non-living, it too is destroyed in the same way. Despite the destructive potential to living organisms, HOCl is produced by our body and is used by our immune system. This process is called phagocytosis. Whenever the immune system is compromised, the body releases white blood cells to fight the invading pathogens. The white blood cells attack, surround (or eat), and destroy (digest) the pathogen using a process that creates solutions that involve Hypochlorous acid as an end product. Even in weak solutions, HOCl is lethal to pathogens, but tolerable to mammalian cells.

FAQs

 

Reimagine Clean. Pure, sustainable, and effective – this is the reimagined future we see at EnviroNize® . Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is how we make this vision a reality. Our next generation production technology allows us to harness basic elements: water, salt and electricity to produce pure HOCl. The very same compound found in human immune systems to help our bodies eliminate pathogens is a powerful tool to combat harmful viruses, bacteria and microbial spores, both surface and airborne, without reliance on harsh chemicals. 

 

Who is EnviroNize®?

EnviroNize® is the Canadian leader in certified organic, sustainable and pure HOCl (Hypochlorous Acid). Based in London, Ontario and family owned and operated,  EnviroNize®  leads the market in the development of application specific HOCl cleaning, disinfectant, and personal care products of unparalleled stability, safety, efficacy and consistency.

 EnviroNize® produces the finest HOCl in terms of quality, purity, stability and efficacy. Dedicated to doing its part to create a better more sustainable world EnviroNize® believes in a future of cleaning that harnesses the benefits of natural science based pathogen elimination instead of a continued reliance on harsh and harmful chemicals.

The EnviroNize®  Team is on a mission to re-imagine clean. Thankfully, we have the technology to generate a substance of unparalleled power, the same as we see in HOCl’s miraculous defense of our own human bodies.

 

What is HOCL?

HOCl, Hypochlorous Acid, is the combined element of Hydrogen, Oxygen and Chlorine.  EnviroNize® HOCl is produced by way of an electrolyzed brine solution with formula specific controls and setpoints. In our bodies, HOCl is produced inside white blood cells and once formed, it becomes one of the fundamental mechanisms of our human defense system – battling pathogens and bacteria within our body to maintain overall health.

 

How does HOCl kill microbial pathogens?

The molecule of hypochlorous acid is HOCl. This molecule is unique in that it is neutrally charged unlike hypochlorite (OCl-) which is negatively charged. This is important as disinfectants and microbial pathogens interact with each other similar to magnets. If you bring together two negatively charged magnets, they will repel each other. Bacteria and hypochlorite (OCl- bleach) are both negatively charged and behave like two negatively charged magnets repelling each other. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is neutrally charged and is not repelled by bacteria. HOCl easily penetrates the walls of the bacteria and destroys them with its strong oxidation potential.

Why is pH important?

A free available chlorine molecule is one that is not attached. There are three forms of free available chlorine: chlorine gas, hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite. Assuming a constant temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, when the pH is below 3, free chlorine will leave solution as chlorine gas. When the pH is above 7.5, over 50% will be hypochorite (OCl-) and will increase in hypochlorite as it rises toward pH 14. Between pH 3 and pH 7.5 the free chlorine solution will be dominated by hypochlorous acid (HOCl).

 

Why is HOCl so effective and why is it not better known?

HOCl is effective in part because of its ability to penetrate and inactivate pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mold and fungi.

While HOCl lives on the spectrum of chlorine, HOCL is not bleach. This is fundamental and explains the ability for humans and animals to interface with HOCl in a safe manner. HOCl, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite and bleach all share elements, but as they are arranged differently, effectiveness, required concentration and interface with pathogens is different per each species. This explains why HOCl is more effective than bleach and yet remains safe for human skin, safe for food surfaces, non-toxic, not caustic and not regulated as a hazardous material like many other chlorine species. HOCl offers the benefits of chlorine without the risks of high-concentration bleach. As a chlorine species, you should note a faint scent, similar to pool water.

HOCl is not new. Its known use and effectiveness dates back to the First World War where it was widely used to treat wounds. Two reasons why HOCl has not evolved the widespread commercial applications are relating to its production. Generation technology has struggled to create solution that is stable, and cell technology has faced challenges in terms of production capacity and volume of output. The EnviroNize® Team sees this point in time as the moment when HOCl emerges as the most effective of all the chlorine species in terms of both efficacy and safety for human, animal and plant interface.

 

Is all HOCl the same?

No. Other brands rely on chemical reactions between bleach and water as well as relying on additives, stabilizers, buffers and other chemical addictions. These practices result in an impure HOCl product which can contain contaminates not consistent with the real power and essence of pure HOCl. It is important for regulators and consumers to evaluate the source of HOCl being advertised; EnviroNize®  HOCl is produced to a set of stringent specifications to result in a pure and stable product safe for use.

 

What are the HOCl PPM concentration and what ingredients are used in EnviroNize® products?

 EnviroNize® HOCl concentrations range based on product and application specifications. All concentrations are clearly marked on our product labels and available for review here on our website. Generally, our concentrations range from 200 PPM or 0.02% to 500 PPM or 0.05%. These concentrations deliver maximum efficacy and stability.

Purity, which EnviroNize® derives from the use of both advanced generation technology along with quality inputs is the basis for HOCl stability.  EnviroNize® HOCl involves pre-treated clean water, high-grade salt and electricity. That’s all. This combination is what delivers both a pure product output, but also due to its elemental and simplistic nature, allows EnviroNize® to proudly carry environmentally sustainable and safe products.

 

What is the difference between HOCl Anolyte and HOCl Catholyte?

 EnviroNize® pure HOCl is formulated and optimized for specific applications and that differentiation begins fundamentally with electrical charge.

Our solution is generally divided into two categories; Anolyte and Catholyte.

The Anolyte family of solutions contains the optimal formulation for the destruction of pathogens. The kill efficacy.

The Catholyte family of solutions delivers unparalleled strength as a cleaner and degreaser. More than that though, the Catholyte acts as a surface pre-treatment, capable of breaking down bio-film so that a subsequent treatment with Anolyte can penetrate fully and eliminate all pathogens, not just those residing on the surface. 

It is for this reason that we often and strongly suggest the use of our Catholyte and Anolyte in combination and in sequence; Catholyte followed by Anolyte, to ensure a true, deep clean.

Can HOCL be combined or mixed with other cleaning and disinfectant products?

No. As a general rule, do not mix HOCl or any formulated products or compounds with other substances or solutions. EnviroNize® , like other producers, craft our formulations for maximum safety and efficacy. Mixing HOCL with other products will likely reduce its efficiency and mixing solutions together is a dangerous activity.