[mateo]

Hello,

I have already completed some research regarding this chemical but I have been doubted by a skeptic who does not believe my understanding of this chemical disinfectant.

The chemical is Alkyl-dimethyl-ammonium saccharinate in ethanol.  Here is my understanding of this, "The alkyl which is the dimethyl are immediately evaporated into the air once the solution is sprayed on something.  Then the ethanol, the main solvent, is the liquid that allows this solute to be wiped or spread onto the surface.  Then, as the ethanol is evaporating, the ammonium saccharinate is then used by the virus and immediately kills the pathogen because the ammonium begins breaking apart specific bonds like NaCl, KCl, etc., which allow the pathogen to spread.  So, the pH begins to become a weak acidic as NH4 bond becomes NH3 cation and has the affinity for Cl anion.  Then this is what kills the pathoghen on the surface.

However, the conscientious objector believes that the if the Lysol is sprayed on a surface, the alkyl adheres with the surface i.e. a stainless steel sink.  Also, the alkyl begins to dissolve the metal or surface and that the chemical is permanently on the surface.

This is where I believe that the chemical can be wiped from a surface using a damp cloth or rinsed away because the alkyl neither acts as an adhesive or a solvent which dissolves the surface.   To the contrary, the ammonium saccharinate is a salt and as a salt, it can be easily dissolved and is the solute, which means once the Lysol spray is sprayed on a surface the ammonium saccharinate salt remains on the surface until it is wiped away with a damp cloth or rinsed away when in a metal sink.

Is this understanding correct?  We had a long discussion about this solution and its properties, please help tell us which of us is correct?


Found some links that really have a nice insight into this matter:  http://jstan.myweb.uga.edu/lysol.html and
https://vprgsecure.web.virginia.edu/bio/disinfectant_summary.html.

[Yggdrasil]

According to wikipedia, chloroxylenol is the main antimicrobial component of lysol.  The alkyl-dimethyl-ammonium saccharinate seems more like a surfactant to me.

[mateo]

Chloroxylenol was not listed on the disclaimer of the can for the surface disinfectant.