Ethanol & Isopropyl Alcohol: Your Questions Answered

Yes, if appropriately measured. Distilled water is ideal. You can find several resources on the internet for calculating. As always, take proper safety measures to avoid splashes and fumes.

700 mL alcohol + 300 mL water

No. 99% alcohol is virtually never used for surface sanitation (unless diluted). All industries including medical device producers, cleanroom manufacturers, laboratories and hospitals use 70% alcohols when specified.

Mixing alcohol with bleach or chlorinated substances or bleach creates chloroform, a highly toxic substance. Isopropyl alcohol is considered a hazardous substance and should be handled with care.

There is absence of evidence on the efficacy of isopropyl alcohol against COVID-19, a disease caused by the virus SARS-COVID-2. Their are some chemicals recognized as effective, or at least, expected to be effective against similar viruses. Here is a list of cleaning chemicals recognized by the EPA as effective against SARS-COVID-2.

Similar viruses such as MERS and SARS have been shown to be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfection with 62 – 71% ethanol. PMID: 32035997

Isopropyl alcohol is not effective against fungus or fungal spores. Treatment of mold and fungus is generally considered a problem of moisture and humidity. Applying a surface level cleaner may have little or no effect on fungal removal.

Generally a higher concentration of alcohol will provide the best effect for aggressive cleaning. You’ll want the least amount of water content possible, hence a 99% solution would be ideal. Sometimes a presaturated lint free IPA wipe is the best option. These are commonly used for removing tough greases, oils, and grime for stencils used during electronics manufacturing. Low lint wipes and stencil wipes resist rips, and tear which makes them ideal for cleaning a screen printer.

99% will provide the best removal of resins, paints, coatings, glue, organic residue, and other aggressive or sticky substances. A 91% alcohol will leave behind trace amounts of water, which may cause particles to stick to the sides of the bottle instead of being washed away. (When you add water to dirt, you get sticky mud. A 70% solution may still be ideal if sanitation is required.

Electronics are water sensitive. Use a 99% IPA. You’ll also want to use a strong, lint free wipe that won’t shed particles.

Live plants may react adversely to alcohols causing death at just a 25% solution. For harvested plants, isopropyl alcohol and ethanol in absolute FFC grades (200 proof, 100%) are most effective for separating and extracting oils from plant materials.

We are aware of some laboratories that will dilute from 99% isopropyl to 70% alcohol as needed. Read: Ethanol for Hand Sanitizer Production

Is is not advised to compound or combine chemical cleaners.

Soap and water are a cost effective option.

“Ethanol, the most common alcohol ingredient, appears to be the most effective alcohol against viruses, whereas, propanol is considered to be a better bactericidal alcohol.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513254/

Disinfectants are only designated as chemicals which interact with inanimate objects. Soap and water is a better option.

1. Labeling Requirements – If following FDA guidelines, the label should say Alcohol Antiseptic 80%. FCC Grade ethanol is a high purity alcohol recommended for large scale hand sanitizer production. This is different from general ingredients for surface sanitation (IPA)

Read: Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency Immediately in Effect

2. There are a handful of caveats for what has “antiseptic properties” and what can be sold on the market with on-label claims. Here’s one example, there are certain chemical ingredients which are not allowed for use in alcohol based hand rubs.

INELIGIBLE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Yes. Isopropyl alcohol is considered a hazardous substance and will incur an extra shipping fee. Additionally, for FedEx Express U.S. export package and freight shipments, the International Out-of-Delivery-Area Surcharge is the greater of $26 per shipment or $0.26 per lb.

The advantage of acquiring 70% alcohol in factory packaging is the assurance that the percentage volume is appropriate and true to label.

Isopropyl alcohol has greater lipophilic properties than ethyl alcohol and is less active against hydrophilic viruses (e.g., poliovirus) (259). Generally, the antimicrobial activity of alcohols is significantly lower at concentrations below 50% and is optimal in the 60 to 90% range. American Society for Microbiology – Antiseptics and Disinfectants: Activity, Action, and Resistance