Chosen Solution
I apologize if this question is not in the right thread as I wasn’t sure where to put and I thought other electronics experts may know. Is the Isopropyl alcohol that we use on circuit boards, is it the same product as what they use in alcohol-based hand sanitizers in hospitals? I ask because there is a need for it given recent events, and the stuff I have is 99%!
What Is Isopropyl Alcohol and How Is It Used? Isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol), also known as isopropanol or IPA, is the most common and widely used disinfectant within pharmaceutics, hospitals, clean rooms, and electronics or medical device manufacturing. Different solutions, purity grades, concentrations, and alcohol types yield beneficial cleaning and disinfection properties when applied correctly; or dangerous consequences when used improperly. This post will help you identify key uses, best practices, and proper disinfection with isopropyl alcohol. Likewise you can see our other posts on IPA as a universal cleaner and the importance of high-quality USP IPA. Why Is 70% the Most Effective Concentration of IPA for Disinfection? Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 90% alcohol with 10 – 40% purified water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50%, usefulness for disinfection drops sharply. Notably, higher concentrations of alcohol don’t generate more desirable bactericidal, virucidal or fungicidal properties. Solutions > 91% IPA may kill some bacteria, but require longer contact times for disinfection, and enable spores to lie in a dormant state without being killed. A 50% isopropyl alcohol solution kills Staphylococcus Aureus in less than 10 seconds (pg. 238), yet a 90% solution with a contact time of over two hours is ineffective. Some disinfectants will kill spores with exposures times that exceed 3-12 hours, which are classified as chemical sterilants. So why do higher alcohol solutions yield fewer results for bactericidal and antimicrobial outcomes? The presence of water is a crucial factor in destroying or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic micro organisms with isopropyl alcohol. Water acts as a catalyst and plays a key role in denaturing the proteins of vegetative cell membranes. 70% IPA solutions penetrate the cell wall more completely which permeates the entire cell, coagulates all proteins, and therefore the micro organism dies. Extra water content slows evaporation, therefore increasing surface contact time and enhancing effectiveness. Isopropyl alcohol concentrations over 91% coagulate proteins instantly. Consequently, a protective layer is created which protects other proteins from further coagulation.
@ryannewman yes it is and I just checked ours and we only use 67%alcohol in our hand cleaner. Remember that there is more in it than just the alcohol, even so some of our patients have been know to consume it :-). Your 99% is perfect for your logic boards and you are not going to create any shortages etc. by using it.
Here’s how to make your own hand sanitizer: What you’ll need: 91% Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) Aloe vera gel Mixing bowl Spoon or something for whisking Small container, such as a 3 oz. travel bottle Optional: essential oil to give the liquid a fragrance (I used orange because it was cheap) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUp-wnLT…
