70% isopropyl alcohol is most commonly used disinfectant in pharmaceutical industries. The important thing is that only 70% solution of isopropyl alcohol acts as a disinfectant killing all surface microorganisms. It is used to disinfect hands and equipment surface in pharma.
70 % isopropyl alcohol solution kills microorganisms by dissolving plasma membrane of the cell wall. Plasma membrane of gram negative bacteria consist of thin layer of peptidoglycon that easily destroyed by the alcohol. Therefore, 70 percent iso propyl alcohol is known as pharmaceutical alcohol.
Water is also required to denature the proteins of cell membrane and acts as a catalyst in the reaction. Contact time of the alcohol with the organism also play an important role. A 70% solution of alcohol takes more time in evaporation from the surface, increasing the contact time. Therefore, 70% isopropyl alcohol fulfills the both requirements.
100% isopropyl alcohol coagulates the protein instantly creating a protein layer that protects the remaining protein from further coagulation. Due to this organism is not killed but remains in dormant stage. While 70% isopropyl alcohol solution penetrates in the cell wall at slower rate and coagulates the all protein of the cell wall and microorganism dies.
Thus 70% IPA solution in water is more effective then 100% absolute alcohol and have more disinfectant capacity.
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