BIOCIDES decomposition . When choosing a biodegradable wipe , one should consider if it is also free of harmful chemicals .
Technological challenges
One of the challenges in transitioning to sustainable wipes is developing products that are effective in disinfecting surfaces . The compatibility of the wipes with different biocidal products depends on the interactions between the wipe molecules and those of the active ingredient ( s ). The industry challenges with pre-moistened wipes containing quaternary ammonium compounds ( QACs ) are a good example of such interactions . The advantages of this combination are that these wipes have a broad spectrum of biocidal activity , are noncorrosive , have a good cleaning ability and are not expensive . 1 The disadvantages are that they are not sporicidal , have a poor activity on non-enveloped viruses and the active ingredient often has a strong interaction with organic materials .
Non-woven wipes made from synthetic materials are more suitable for use with QACs because they have specific physical and chemical properties that make them compatible with these disinfectants . Firstly , synthetic materials are more resistant to chemical reactions and degradation than natural materials . They are less likely to interfere with the disinfecting properties of QACs and are able to maintain their structure and integrity when in contact with these types of disinfectants .
At fibre level , they also have a high surface area-to-volume ratio , which allows for a greater amount of disinfectant to be absorbed and retained in the wipe itself . This results in a more effective delivery of the disinfectant onto the surface being wiped and provides better overall performance . Finally , synthetic materials have a lower interaction than natural materials with the polar molecules of the QACs . This can be beneficial when using those active ingredients as disinfectants .
Natural wipes may not be as compatible with QACs compared to synthetic non-woven wipes . They also have a more complex structure and chemical composition , which could result in strong interactions with the disinfectant and impact its effectiveness . This is due to the fact that natural materials may contain organic compounds or impurities that can react with the disinfecting ingredient , binding it to the substrate , decreasing the release on the surfaces . This could result in incomplete disinfection or in the formation of unwanted , potentially harmful , by-products . In addition , natural materials often break down faster than synthetics , which can result in reduced performance over time and a reduced shelf life .
This can be particularly problematic when using QACs , because they are designed to be used at specific concentrations . Excessive retention
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