Vapourtec, a UK-based laboratory equipment manufacturer and a leading manufacturer of flow chemistry equipment used throughout research and the chemicals industry, has announced the launch of a unique handheld sprayer that could turn mildly salty water into a powerful disinfectant.
Vapourtec reports that the new equipment, called ‘easy HC-10’, uses an electrochemical reaction to instantly convert tap water containing just 0.25% salt into hypochlorous acid, a powerful disinfectant which the human body itself produces to fight infection. The company claims that the new equipment could produce a disinfectant that kills 99.9 percent of germs, bacteria, viruses including Covid-19. The new easy HC-10 could be adopted by cleaning companies and operators eager to reduce the need to buy and store traditional disinfectant. Hypochlorous acid is used commercially as a powerful disinfectant but has a relatively short shelf life when stored.
Duncan Guthrie, Vapourtec’s founder and Managing Director. said, “Hypochlorous acid is a powerful disinfectant which our bodies already use to kill germs. The easy-HC10 instantly produces it from nothing more than tap water and salt, eradicating the need for costly disinfectant.”
The new easy-HC10 is a handheld sprayer powered by a rechargeable lithium battery and features a 2-litre reservoir which is filled with tap water and just 5 grams of salt. Pulling the trigger produces an instant spray of hypochlorous acid solution, the concentration of which can be controlled depending on the intensity of disinfection needed. The spray rapidly kills germs and viruses, and Vapourtec has established it as safe to use on solid and fabric surfaces and around people and pets. The battery has a 90-minute run time and each 2 litres of water produces around 25 minutes of continuous spraying, making the device ideal for disinfecting larger areas like offices, schools, health settings and public transport. The device weighs just 3kg when empty and features a shoulder strap for carrying and operation. It dispenses the fine disinfectant spray at a rate of around 5 litres per hour for commercial and professional use.
Duncan adds, “It can cost up to 96% less to use than NHS-grade disinfectants.” The company observes, ‘With commercial disinfectant costing between £0.75 and £4 per litre, the easy-HC10 requires just a few pence worth of tap water and 5 grams of salt each time it is refilled.’
