It is widely used in cosmetics, wet wipes, hand and surface sanitisers.
May be found in disinfectants and antiseptics, as well as fabric softeners and personal hygiene and cosmetic products such as shampoos, conditioners, and body lotions.
Uses
Benzalkonium Chloride 50% (B.K.C.) is used as an antimicrobial preservative, antiseptic, and disinfectant. Used as a biocide in water treatment chemical and as a disinfectant.
Benefits
• Prevents the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi
• Used in a wide variety of products
Usage Rate
May be used in concentrations of 0.5–2% for hair conditioner, 0.13% for antiseptics, and 0.1% (wt/vol) for disinfectants.
Strengths
Fast-acting bactericide, virucide, algaecide, and fungicide.
Caution
Benzalkonium Chloride 50% (B.K.C.) is a safe, fast-acting bactericide, virucide, algaecide, and fungicide used as an antibacterial to fight against wide spectrum bacteria. An organic salt, B.K.C. is classified as quaternary and is used in cleaning agents, but is mainly used as a preservative and antimicrobial agent, and secondarily as a surfactant.
Benzalkonium Chloride 50%'s applications range from domestic to agricultural, industrial, and clinical as a biocide, a cationic surfactant, and a phase transfer agent in the chemical industry. It operates by destroying microorganisms and inhibiting their future growth, which is why it is a popular ingredient in antibacterial hand wipes, antiseptic creams, and anti-itch ointments. In cosmetics, its antimicrobial properties are used to prolong the shelf life of products.