FAQs

The PathoSans® electrolyzed water technology converts softened water and salt into two distinctly different electrolyzed water solutions, also known as Electrochemically Activated (ECA) solutions.

The first is a highly activated, dilute solution of hypochlorous acid. It is a powerful disinfectant/sanitizer. We call this PathoCide®. The second solution is a highly activated, dilute solution of sodium hydroxide and can be used as an effective detergent and grease cutter. We call this PathoClean®. PathoClean is a natural cleaner and sanitizer and will allow you to confidently eliminate traditional chemicals for an environmentally responsible, sustainable cleaning operation throughout your business.

Electrolyzed water is the result of a process known as electrolysis. This is the process of passing an electrical current through a substance to effect a chemical change. In this case, softened tap water is passed through an electrolytic cell that contains multiple chambers, some with a positive electrical charge, the others with a negative charge. A salt bridge is used to pass electricity through the cell. In this design the salt bridge is in an open brine bath.

Salt contains chloride and sodium, the chloride ions are migrated into the positively charged chambers and sodium ions are migrated into the chamber with the negative charge. Both are passed through selective ion transfer membranes that are designed to permit only chloride ions or only sodium ions into the respective chambers.

In the positively charged chamber, chloride ions, which are naturally negatively charged, are attracted to the positive charge and will combine with H2O molecules to create HOCl or hypochlorous acid. Some call this acidic electrolyzed water, electrolyzed oxidative (EO) water or anolyte. We call ours PathoCide®.

In the negatively charged chamber, sodium ions, which are naturally positively charged, are attracted to the negative charge and will combine with a hydrogen and oxygen ion to create NaOH or sodium hydroxide. Some call this alkaline electrolyzed water, electrolyzed reductive (ER) water or catholyte. We call ours PathoClean®.

PathoCide® is a powerful disinfectant/sanitizer; PathoClean is a degreaser and cleaner.

The active ingredient in our PathoCide Solution is hypochlorous acid, an acid that the human immune system uses to kill pathogens throughout the body. For example when invading pathogens enter the body; the immune system recognizes the problem and proceeds to destroy the harmful cells with hypochlorous acid.

Hypochlorous acid reacts readily with a variety of microbial sub-cellular compounds, interferes with metabolic processes, and kills individual bacterium exposed within milliseconds (see time kill studies for more on dwell time). Specifically, it is a great bactericidal due to three different kill mechanisms.

  1. HOCl: Hypochlorous acid attacks the entire membrane “burning” through the cell wall helping to flood the cell. Once inside the cell, hypochlorous acid oxidizes or burns the organelles and other biological matter (lysis kill). Hypochlorous acid causes the disintegration or rupture of the cell membrane, resulting in the release of cell contents and the subsequent death of the cell. This process, called lysis, ensures that resistant bacterial strains can never develop.
  1. High ORP: ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) is a measure of the strength and ability to react with intracellular and extracellular proteins. The higher the ORP, the more potential to kill the cell.
  1. Acidic pH: The lower the pH, the higher the concentration of hydrogen ions which react with intracellular and extracellular proteins. When the hydrogen ion concentration rises and the cell cannot release the ions to the environment, the pH is lowered to a level that kills the cell.

The main ingredient in bleach is calcium hypochlorite, whereas PathoCide is primarily hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid can be 100 times more powerful than the hypochlorite ion in bleach, yet it is nonirritating to eyes and skin. Bleach, however, is known to be cytotoxic, can cause severe tissue damage, and can be a breathing irritant.

At PathoSans, we took a fresh look at electrolysis and created the most advanced next-generation design in the industry. We advanced the technology by submerging our electrolytic cell in a saturated saline solution therefore eliminating the need for a pump. This eliminates a moving part that requires maintenance, increases cell efficiency, and eliminates stress on the ion transfer membranes as no pressure is put on them from pumping water. We also developed and patented the “open brine bath” technology, which keeps the brine exterior to the cell chambers thus eliminating any salt in the output.

In the electrolysis of brine the sodium ion is stripped from the salt molecule and passes through the ion permeable membrane driven by the attraction of the negative charge on the electrode. If the water on the electrode side of the membrane contains minerals (calcium, magnesium, etc.) they will react with OH– instead of Na+ to form an insoluble precipitate that will clog the membrane as well as the water portals. This will make the electrolytic reaction less efficient and eventually lead to premature cell failure.

Also, the electrolytic reaction on the cathode side of the cell raises pH above 9.6 which converts soluble calcium bicarbonate hardness to insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3). An increase in pH beyond 10.6 converts soluble magnesium bicarbonate to insoluble magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2. Both of these minerals will deposit on internal surfaces and restrict water flow.