Principle: The dynamic decomposition of ethylene oxide can generate huge energy and destroy the internal structure of bacteria, thus causing harm to bacteria.

Structural formula of ethylene oxide:

Ethylene oxide (EO) is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H4O, which is a toxic carcinogen and has been used to make fungicides. Ethylene oxide is flammable and explosive, difficult to transport for a long distance, and has a strong regional character. Widely used in washing, pharmaceutical, printing and dyeing industries. It can be used as initiator of cleaning agent in chemical related industries.

Ethylene oxide is the second generation chemical disinfectant after formaldehyde, and it is still one of the best cold disinfectants, and it is also the most important member of the four low-temperature sterilization technologies (low-temperature plasma, low-temperature formaldehyde vapor, ethylene oxide and glutaraldehyde). EO is a simple epoxy compound, which is a nonspecific alkyl compound. Its molecular formula is C2H4O and its structural formula is -CH2-CH2-O-.

chemical property

Its chemical properties are very active, and it can react with many compounds by ring-opening addition. Ethylene oxide can reduce silver nitrate. It is easy to polymerize after heating and will decompose in the presence of metal salts or oxygen.

Main uses:

Ethylene oxide is a toxic carcinogen, which was previously used to make fungicides. Ethylene oxide is flammable and explosive, difficult to transport for a long distance, and has a strong regional character. Widely used in washing, pharmaceutical, printing and dyeing industries. It can be used as initiator of cleaning agent in chemical related industries.

Ethylene oxide has bactericidal effect, does not corrode metals, has no residual odor, and can kill bacteria (and its endospore), molds and fungi, so it can be used as a gas disinfectant to disinfect some articles and materials that cannot tolerate high-temperature disinfection.