Low-cost, local production of a safe and effective disinfectant for resource-constrained communities

Improved hygiene depends on the accessibility and availability of
effective disinfectant solutions. These disinfectant solutions are
unavailable to many communities worldwide due to resource limitations,
among other constraints. Safe and effective chlorine-based disinfectants
can be produced via simple electrolysis of salt water, providing a
low-cost and reliable option for on-site, local production of disinfectant
solutions to improve sanitation and hygiene. This study reports on a
system (herein called “Electro-Clean”) that can produce concentrated
solutions of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) using readily available, low-cost
materials. With just table salt, water, graphite welding rods, and a DC
power supply, the Electro-Clean system can safely produce HOCl solutions
(~1.5 liters) of up to 0.1% free chlorine (i.e.,1000 ppm) in less than two
hours at low potential (5 V DC) and modest current (~5 A). Rigorous
testing of free chlorine production and durability of the Electro-Clean
system components, described here, has been verified to work in multiple
locations around the world, including microbiological tests conducted in
India and Mexico to confirm the biocidal efficacy of the Electro-Clean
solution as a surface disinfectant. Cost estimates are provided for making
HOCl locally with this method in the USA, India, and Mexico. Findings
indicate that Electro-Clean is an affordable alternative to off-the-shelf
commercial chlorinator systems in terms of first costs (or capital costs),
and cost-competitive relative to the unit cost of the disinfectant
produced. By minimizing dependence on supply chains and allowing for local
production, the Electro-Clean system has the potential to improve public
health by addressing the need for disinfectant solutions in
resource-constrained communities.