Disinfection knowledge explanation series
Chemical disinfection factors – aldehyde compounds

In the world of chemical disinfection, aldehyde compounds stand out for their powerful bactericidal ability. Today, we will take a closer look at formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and o-phthalaldehyde, three powerful “aldehydes”, and see how they perform in the field of disinfection.

1. Formaldehyde: The earliest known disinfection “veteran”

Formaldehyde is usually prepared by oxidation of methanol under the action of a catalyst. Its aqueous solution is commonly known as formalin and has a strong irritating odor. In terms of disinfection, formaldehyde gas fumigation is often used for space disinfection in hospital operating rooms and sterile rooms, and can effectively kill bacteria, viruses, spores and other microorganisms; formalin solution can be used for immersion disinfection of medical devices and fixation and preservation of pathological specimens. However, formaldehyde is highly toxic and has strong irritation to the human respiratory tract, eyes and skin. It is also a carcinogen. When used, it must be carried out in a closed environment. Personnel must take good protection and ventilate thoroughly. At present, its application is gradually replaced by other disinfectants.

2. Glutaraldehyde: A mild and efficient disinfection “backbone”

Glutaraldehyde is generally prepared from acrolein through a series of reactions. It has stable properties, a wide bactericidal spectrum, and can play a good disinfection effect under acidic or alkaline conditions. Alkaline glutaraldehyde solution is often used for immersion disinfection and sterilization of medical devices, such as endoscopes, surgical instruments, etc., and can kill various pathogenic microorganisms in a short time. Compared with formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde is less irritating, but it is still toxic. When using it, you need to wear gloves and masks to avoid contact with the skin and mucous membranes; the disinfected instruments should be rinsed repeatedly to prevent the residue from causing harm to the human body.

3. O-phthalaldehyde: The emerging low-toxic disinfection “new star”

O-phthalaldehyde is made by oxidation of o-xylene and is a disinfectant that has attracted much attention in recent years. It has the characteristics of fast sterilization speed and low corrosiveness, and is particularly suitable for the disinfection of precision medical devices, such as high-level disinfection of soft endoscopes. O-phthalaldehyde has a small odor and is much less irritating to the human body than formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, and is safer. However, it is relatively expensive, and it needs to be stored away from light. When using it, it must be operated strictly according to the specified concentration and time to ensure the disinfection effect.

Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and o-phthalaldehyde each have their own advantages and disadvantages. When using these aldehyde disinfectants, it is necessary to strictly follow the operating specifications and take safety precautions. With the development of science and technology, safer and more efficient disinfectants may appear in the future, but understanding the power of these “aldehydes” can enable us to make more scientific choices in disinfection work.