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Hydrogen Chloride as a pH Conditioner
Obtained from a water treatment chemical supplier, hydrogen chloride has an extremely low pH (around 1.5-2), making it a strong acid. The water treatment process is often presented with situations that demand an added strong acid and hydrogen chloride, which becomes hydrochloric acid when it forms an aqueous solution with water, fills this role nicely. Hydrogen chloride’s role in the water treatment process is to lower the pH of basic (alkaline) water. When water is too alkaline, corrosion in pipes and equipment occurs, and, more significantly, the health of anyone drinking the water is negatively affected. Elevated pH levels also causes scale formations in water treatment equipment, eventually lead to pinhole leaks in copper pipes, decrease water heater efficiency, and stain porcelain.
If you are concerned about the pH balance of your water, specifically if your water is basic, it is important to recognize the signs of alkaline water. Your water will taste bitter, and the telltale blue-green staining caused by the leaching of copper from pipes will be noted on surfaces coming in contact with the water. To remedy this situation, hydrogen chloride is a dependable acid with many benefits. While other strong acids are available, the water treatment chemical, hydrochloric acid, is the least hazardous to handle, the most stable during storage (concentrations of HCl in water remain more constant than other acids), is available as a pure reagent, and it contains non-toxic and non-reactive chloride ions.
To keep your water treatment equipment safe, check the pH frequently. When a strong acid is necessary to counteract a basic pH, rely on hydrogen chloride to work quickly and effectively. If you’re looking for water treatment chemicals or a water treatment chemical supplier, contact Bell Chem at 407-339-BELL (2355) today.
Chlorinated Detergents
Detergents purchased from sanitation chemical suppliers are renowned for their ability to clean. This process begins when detergents break the surface tension of water used to rinse stainless steel, plastic, or any other hard surface. Once water’s tensile strength is relaxed, water is able to penetrate soiled areas on most hard surfaces and remove grime. Adding a chlorinated component to the detergent will also disinfect surfaces as they are cleaned.
Chlorinated detergents sanitize and bleach stainless steel surfaces, floors, and most plastics. Breweries and wineries use chlorinated detergents as part of their post-fermentation cleaning process to remove brewing deposits. Professional painters find chlorinated detergents excellent for washing walls because it can be entirely rinsed off the surface to be primed and painted. The dairy industry uses chlorinated detergents to clean its milking apparatus and pipelines. Power and spray washers incorporate chlorinated detergents in their equipment; and many convoluted, hard-to-clean machines benefit from the use of chlorinated detergents.
Tannin, a substance released from decaying leaves, stubbornly clings to most hard surfaces. Chlorinated detergents easily remove these stains, leaving a gleaming surface where dark stains once lingered. Along with removing tannin, the sanitation chemicals in chlorinated detergents are also effective in removing proteins, food, and soil.
Add to the above benefits the facts that chlorinated detergents are low-foam, safe to use on soft metals, widely utilized in food manufacturing and production, and hard water tolerant, it is no wonder so many industries turn to chlorinated detergents as their cleaning and disinfecting needs.
At Bell Chem, we are the sanitation chemical supplier offering a variety of products to suit your needs. It’s our goal to provide our clients with the best service in the industry. Along with sanitation chemicals, we provide food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care materials, as well as technical-grade chemicals and custom-blended compounds. If you’re looking for a reliable Florida chemical supply company, contact us today at 407-339-BELL (2355).
Sanitizing vs. Disinfecting
Ask most homeowners the difference between sanitizing and disinfecting and you will probably receive a blank stare. While they seem similar and the two words are often used interchangeably, take it from a knowledgeable sanitation chemical supplier: sanitizing and disinfecting are not the same.
When a countertop is disinfected, the adult forms of bacteria and fungi are either destroyed or inactivated. Sanitizing, on the other hand, decreases the number of pathogens to an amount viewed as safe by public health standards. As an example, food-processing areas are typically disinfected (removing 100% of all organisms within a specified time, such as ten minutes) while other areas may be sanitized (destroying 99.999% for food service areas or 99.9% for non-food surfaces within 30 seconds). Because the chemicals may work quickly to destroy most of the bacteria and more slowly before killing all pathogens, several chemicals are listed as both sanitizers and disinfectants.
Among the list of sanitizing chemicals provided by sanitation chemical suppliers are hypochlorites, chlorine dioxide, iodophors, peroxyacetic acid, and quaternary ammonia compounds.
Hypochlorites: Hypochlorites are strong oxidizers. Their low cost and effectiveness give them the title of most widely used sanitizers.
Chlorine dioxide: Chlorine dioxide works on a greater pH range than hypochlorites, and is relatively safe to use in a solution. The cost is greater than hypochlorites, but less chlorine dioxide is necessary to sanitize an area.
Iodophors: Iodophors work best in slightly acidic conditions. Because the iodine content stains many surfaces, especially plastics, iodophors are typically used on glass surfaces. Iodophors are sustained release, giving continuous levels of sanitizer for extended periods of time without re-application.
Peroxyacetic acid: Peroxyacetic acid works well in temperatures below 4°C. Less corrosive and environmentally friendlier than hypochlorites, peroxyacetic acid is often combined with hydrogen peroxide for better results.
Quaternary ammonium compounds: Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) do not stain or corrode, and are relatively nontoxic. QACs also perform well in a wide pH and temperature range. Once QAC dries on a surface, an anti-microbial film is formed that prevents pathogen growth.
Knowing the difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant will assist in choosing the correct product for your business needs. If you’re looking to purchase sanitation or disinfectant chemicals from a sanitation chemical supplier, look no further than Bell Chem. We’re located in Central Florida and we’re happy to help with all of your sanitation chemical needs. For additional information, contact us today at 407-339-BELL (2355).
Water Treatment From Start to Finish
Worldwide pollution has rendered it nearly impossible to dip your hand into a pool of fresh water and enjoy a hand-full of water free of biological contaminants, chemicals, and suspended solids. Instead, our drinking water must be purified for our safety. The process of purification depends on the end result of the water: will it be used for drinking, within a hospital, for irrigation, or another use? Methods of purification include filtration, sedimentation, flocculation, ultraviolet light, and chlorination, to name a few. Chemical testing and treatment are the foremost methods of decontamination of pathogens, making water treatment chemical suppliers an important piece to the purification puzzle. The role, amount, and mixture of chemicals used to treat water are dependent upon the application, but a broad overview follows.
Calcium hydroxide: Used to increase the alkalinity of water to promote water hardness and buffering.
Carbon dioxide: Decreases water’s pH to allow for coagulation (flocculation).
Hydrated aluminum sulphate: This substance acts as a flocculant.
Ozone: Responsible for removing toxins, herbicides, pesticides, organic matter, and compounds affecting taste and odor.
Polyaluminum chloride: Aids in flocculation.
Polyelectrolyte: Also aids in flocculation.
Potassium permanganate: Removes iron and manganese.
Sodium hydroxide: Helps to increase the pH levels.
Sodium hypochlorite: Acts as a disinfectant.
Water purification is not limited to adding chemicals to our water supply. Other factors are necessary to bring us the life-giving properties of contaminant-free drinking water. Without these chemicals, provided by a water treatment chemical supplier, the process would take much longer at a significant increase in expense.
If you’re look for a water treatment chemical supplier in the Central Florida area, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re more than happy to present you with additional information on water treatment chemicals and direct you to the products that suit your needs.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Traditionally, drinking water is treated with chlorine to control bacteria and other pollutants. However, it has been proven that chlorine causes many difficulties in the human body, such as severe chemical burns from direct contact or lung irritation from breathing in chlorine gases. What if another water treatment chemical option existed to treat water--something with the same result as chlorine, but without the harmful side effects? The answer may be as close as your home’s medicine cabinet: hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is not a caustic acid like chlorine. For this reason, using hydrogen peroxide in a water treatment system is considered better for the environment as well as for the population served by the water treatment facility. Rather than the harmful chlorinate hydrocarbons and salt residuals remaining from chlorine use, hydrogen peroxide effuses oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide’s oxidation process is advantageous in finding and destroying bacteria in water. Once added as a water treatment chemical, hydrogen peroxide biodegrades into oxygen and water, leaving nothing detrimental to the environment.
While the initial cost of hydrogen peroxide exceeds that of chlorine in the same concentration, hydrogen peroxide works more quickly to rid water of contaminants, or can be diluted for the same results as chlorine. Considering hydrogen peroxide is safer to handle, far superior in its effects on the environment, produces natural and safe waste products, and works more quickly to clean water in many instances, it may be time to invest in hydrogen peroxide for water treatment.
If you’re looking to purchase hydrogen peroxide or any other water treatment chemicals, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re the leading water treatment chemical supplier in the Central Florida area and we’re more than happy to help you with your chemical needs.
Glycerin
Also known as glycerol, glycerin is a natural compound produced from a vegetable oil and other products or synthesized from propylene alcohol. Glycerin is a beauty care chemical that is added to many skin care products because it is well tolerated by the body and gives skin a healthy, natural appearance. Glycerin’s benefits are far-reaching, and its medicinal properties not only make the skin appear healthy, but actually improves the skin’s overall health.
If you have ever suffered psoriasis, you know the itching, flaking skin associated with this disorder is irritating, embarrassing, and painful. Psoriasis occurs because the outermost layers of epidermal cells are shed before they mature, causing thick, scaly patches that flake away with the slightest touch. According to research, applying glycerin to psoriasis signals the cells within the psoriasis patches to mature normally, which gives the skin a more even appearance without the blemishes associated with psoriasis.
Being a humectant, glycerin attracts moisture to the epidermis. When this beauty care chemical is applied to the surface of the skin, glycerin seals in moisture to maintain water homeostasis within the body’s cells. Not only is the skin sealed, glycerin also increases the thickness of the corneocytes, or the outermost layer of skin, relieving extremely dry skin and forming a stronger protective barrier between the body and the external environment. Glycerin also assists in soothing and curing bruised or swollen skin. The softness noted with glycerin use is due to the degradation of the corneodesmosomes that link together skin cells. When these links are broken, cells are shed in a more uniform fashion, which leaves the skin more smooth and even.
Given these examples, it’s no wonder glycerin is used in mouthwash, toothpaste, bar soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, hair care products, and shower gels. If you have not already tried glycerin, now is the ultimate time to benefit from this beauty care chemical’s myriad of uses.
For additional information on glycerine, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.
Oils
Many people are turning to oils to complement their current beauty care regimen, and for good reason. Oils are natural, easy to use, and give superior results. Depending on your needs, a range of oil-based beauty care chemicals is undoubtedly available for you. Eucalyptus oil, for instance, is an ingredient in perfumes, fragrances, and lotions. Garlic oil treats acne. Coconut oil has become a leading oil for hair and skin treatments; argan oil works as an overnight deep conditioner for your hair; and tea tree oil has gained recognition as somewhat of a panacea.
Below are five oil-based beauty care chemicals and a few of their many properties and uses.
Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is an antifungal. It removes residue on the scalp and frees clogged pores. Hair follicles are stimulated by eucalyptus oil, giving you stronger, thicker, shinier, and healthier hair. Mix eucalyptus oil with vinegar and water to relieve your itchy scalp. Eucalyptus oil kills staphylococcus bacteria, which causes halitosis and other oral problems. Use this oil as a mouthwash to freshen and clean your mouth.
Garlic Oil: Garlic seems an odd answer to athlete’s foot, but garlic oil is an antifungal and anti-inflammatory. Use garlic oil to treat acne, cold sores, and psoriasis as well.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a wonder at removing makeup, including waterproof mascara, leaving the skin clean and moisturized. Used as a body moisturizer, coconut oil expedites wound healing, increases hydration, and reduces water loss in extremely dry skin. Lips also benefit from coconut oil as a balm. Other uses include as a shaving cream, to soothe dry and cracked hands, as a highlighter over makeup, and as an excellent deep conditioner since it penetrates hair follicles and prevents loss of protein.
Argan Oil: Argan oil works as a deep conditioner and overnight hair treatment to leave hair soft and full. On your skin, argan oil is a superb moisturizer and counters the effects of acne. Use on wet skin as a body lotion to leave your skin silky without feeling greasy. On the cuticles, argan oil enhances the health and appearance of fingernails and the nail bed.
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is an astringent mouthwash that combats halitosis while invigorating the gums. On the face, tea tree oil works as a makeup remover, exfoliator, acne prevention and curative, and toner.
These oils and a variety of others are changing the way we treat our skin. Try one or more today to improve the appearance of your skin, nails, and hair. If you’re looking for a reliable beauty care chemical supplier, look no further than Bell Chem. For additional information, contact us today.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Somewhere, lurking in the depths of your medicine cabinet, you probably own a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. This innocuous little bottle, generally referred to as “rubbing alcohol,” is commonly used as a quick disinfectant and antiseptic. However, its uses extend far beyond these; in fact, the cosmetics and personal care industries utilize its abilities in hundreds--if not thousands--of products, including eye and skin makeup, bath products, lotions, aftershave, deodorant, hair products, and health care products.
Isopropyl alcohol, also known as isopropanol, has several characteristics chemists find work well in makeup and health care merchandise. One of these properties is its ability to dissolve other substances and increase liquidity--quite helpful with heavier ingredients that may tend to clump together. Added to liquid soaps, it reduces the tendency to produce foam when the container is shaken. Isopropyl alcohol cools and soothes irritated skin, and removes oil from the skin’s surface--and, as mentioned previously, this miraculous product is also an antiseptic.
Many acne medications contain isopropyl alcohol because it removes oil, dries the skin, and kills acne-causing bacteria on and beneath the epidermis. When used with tea tree oil or clove oil, isopropyl alcohol has the ability to deter acne while replenishing your skin’s moisture. Clinicians use isopropyl alcohol to cleanse a patient’s ears before they are pierced, then the patient uses the same product to clean their earrings, which helps to prevent infection. As a rubefacient, any abrasion is easily treated with isopropyl alcohol to relieve pain. If your fingernail polish is cracked and you are unable to find your nail polish remover, isopropyl alcohol will remove the polish without any difficulty.
Many hair products contain small amounts of isopropanol because of its previously mentioned ability to liquefy heavy elements. It also increases the absorption rate of chemicals at the hair’s follicle, which is a benefit when using a hair coloring treatment, for instance. Hairsprays regularly contain isopropyl alcohol because it dries quickly without the use of heat. Imagine applying hairspray and using a hair dryer to expedite its hold and you will understand yet another benefit of isopropanol.
For additional information on isopropyl alcohol, or other beauty care chemicals, contact the professionals at Bell Chem today.
Salicylic Acid in Facial Care Products
When a product contains the word “acid” in its nomenclature, most people conjure images of dangerous chemicals with corrosive properties--a strong acid. Salicylic acid does not fit into that category. This mild acid was originally derived from the bark of a willow tree and is considered a natural plant hormone. Nowadays salicylic acid is manufactured in a laboratory with more exact measurements and fewer variables. With myriad uses, salicylic acid has also proven to be a leader in facial care products; in fact, more than 100 facial products contain salicylic acid. What is it that gives beauty care chemicals, like salicylic acid, an edge over other facial care products?
Salicylic acid works as a keratolytic, or a substance that aids in the softening and shedding of the outer layer of skin. Once keratolysis occurs, the underlying skin is exposed, giving the user a more even, smooth skin surface. As a bacteriostatic, salicylic acid prevents bacteria from reproducing and disrupting skin function. Lastly, the comedolytic action of salicylic acid breaks up or destroys comedones (clogged hair follicles). These clogged hair follicles also produce an inflammatory response, and the beauty care chemical, salicylic acid, calms this response so the skin no longer appears puffy. With acne, the exfoliation experienced from using products containing salicylic acid will likewise remove many comedones. Even after application, salicylic acid works to decrease the diameter of pores, preventing new bacteria from entering.
Along with acne products, salicylic acid is also used to prevent or reduce the effects of seborrhoeic dermatitis (affecting the areas containing sebaceous glands in the epidermis), psoriasis, acanthosis nigricans (skin discolorations), ichthyosis (dry, flaky, thickened, or scaly skin), calluses, warts, and other skin care problems. It is also used in dandruff shampoos or other shampoos that treat dermatologic difficulties.
Because the properties of salicylic acid have been proven over centuries, its use is considered safe and effective. Everyday use is acceptable and often recommended for many skin afflictions. The benefit of an anti-inflammatory component allows only one medication to treat multiple symptoms, which elevates salicylic acid above many other facial care products.
If you’re looking to purchase this beauty care chemical, or require additional information, contact Bell Chem today at 407-339-BELL (2355). We’re more than happy to assist you in any way we can. Also, check your beauty care products’ labels and share this post if your favorite products are made with salicylic acid. Tell us about the product and whether you like it!
Can I Use Acid to Wash My Clothes?
Acid washing sounds like a clever idea teenagers used in the 1980s to transform dark jeans into a hue as close to white as possible. However, acid washing is far more common than that. As a matter of fact, each time you add bleach to your wash, you are applying acid to clean and sanitize your laundry. Commonly sold by sanitation chemical suppliers, acids are defined as chemicals with a pH below 7. In detergents, an acid will register below pH 3.
Many biological substances, such as bacteria, live in a narrow pH zone that lingers around neutral (pH 7). By creating an acidic environment (below pH 7), most forms of bacteria can no longer survive. Acid detergents operate by penetrating the cellular membrane of bacteria or fungi where they manipulate an enzyme specific to these life forms. The same acid detergents are not harmful to humans because the enzymes the acids attack are not present in humans. Acid detergents, therefore, are superior anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.
The other advantage of washing with acids is stain removal. One example of an acid widely used in laundering is boric acid. Boric acid may be used as a stain remover or as a bleaching agent. This versatile acid will remove blood, dark juices and wine, chocolate, and many varieties of soil. Another acid that is not as well known as boric acid, but is still provided by a sanitation chemical supplier, is oxalic acid, which works as a stain and rust remover on many surfaces, including fabrics. While many laundry products contain oxalic acid, fabric and water softeners often contain another acid, phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid removes calcium and magnesium ions from water to keep the ions from forming deposits that adhere to fabrics. White vinegar’s chemical nomenclature is acetic acid. Acetic acid is a stain remover for natural fabrics such as silk, cotton, wool, or linen.
In summary, many acids are available and have been used for decades, if not centuries, for dozens of laundry situations. Do you use acid when washing your clothes? Share this post and tell us about your chemical tricks when doing laundry. For additional information, contact Bell Chem, the Orlando sanitation chemical supplier. We’re available to assist in any way possible.