The Material Compatibility of Aerosolyzed & Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide A Quip Laboratories White Paper Introduction There have been a number of studies into the material com- patibility of fogged hydrogen The use of Fogged Hydrogen peroxide, and the purpose of Peroxide (H2O2) has grown this paper is to compile those steadily in industries that re- findings and show the efficacy quire disinfection and the and material compatibility of elimination of micro –organ- H2O2 systems when used with- isms, as its ability to kill spores in healthcare, pharma, biomed- and sterilize materials, has ical facilities, or any facility been demonstrated in many that utilizes exposed electronic studies with a variety of prac- instruments. tical applications (Agalloco & Akers, 2013). Questions have Efficacy and Increased arisen though, about compat- Popularity of H2O2 ibility with different materials Systems used in the healthcare and bio- medical industries. Before understanding just how Material compatibility is es- H2O2 reacts with the materials sential in these industries be- present in healthcare, pharma cause of the cost and impor- or biomedical facilities, it’s im- tance of the equipment used. portant to note the efficacy of The consequences of malfunc- such a system as a bactericide, tioning healthcare equipment virucide and sporicide. The can range from expensive H2O2 process was developed mishaps to deadly disasters. in the mid-1980s, utilizing a Biomedical equipment must be patented closed-loop, low con- maintained in excellent condi- centration, “dry” process. Over tion in order to assure accura- the last decade, a number of cy in a facility’s findings. tests have proven the effica- cy of these systems, and have ylococcus aureus and Pseudo- overwhelmingly found that hy- monas aeruginosa after only 20 drogen peroxide is exceptional- minutes (Sanosil, 2010). A full ly effective when used as a dry list of the biocidal efficacy of fog because of its ability to fill the HaloFogger® system can be hard to reach crevices and dis- furnished upon request. infect often missed corners of a facility. Additionally, according to the CDC, “properly used, H2O2 is H2O2 has shown to have reli- an effective sterilant capable of able biocidal activity against a efficient and rapid elimination wide range of healthcare and of contaminating microbes. Va- biomedical associated patho- por phase hydrogen peroxide gens. In fact, according to a Journal of Hospital Infection published study (Volume 80, “Properly used, H2O2 is Issue 2, February 2012, Pages an effective sterilant 110–115), fogged hydrogen per- capable of efficient and oxide “resulted in complete in- rapid elimination of activation of all viruses tested including poliovirus, rotavirus, contaminating microbes.” adenovirus, murine norovirus (Tuladhara, Terpstrac, Koop- has been shown to be an effec- mansa, & Duizer, 2012). tive sporicide at concentrations Sanosil’s own studies have ranging from 0.5 mg/L to <10 found that the H2O2 solution mg/L.” (Arlene & Vesley, 1990) used in the HaloFogger® sys- tem is an extremely effective In summation, the efficacy of biocidal agent, capable of kill- H2O2 is widely agreed upon. It ing methicillin resistant Staph- has been accepted by both the FDA and the US Environmen- at the end of this guide. tal Protection Agency (EPA) In a 2003 study by B&V Test- as a sterilizing agent, and has ing, materials underwent been used successfully in a H2O2 injection at 108 g/min, number of different industries fogged from nine H2O2 gen- including healthcare, pharma, erators for five hours, with an biodmedical and even food, average H2O2 concentration where H2O2 is widely used to of 327 ppm. Materials tested “sterilize containers, closures included a laptop computer, and aseptic chambers (i.e., iso- an LCD monitor, a telephone, lators) used for manufacturing electronic scales, various elec- low-acid and dairy-based bev- tronic sensors, stainless steel erages as well as other appli- clamps and connectors, rubber cations.” (Center for Disease grommets and washers, rub- Control, 2009) ber hoses and various plastic containers. B&V found that Testing History of H2O2 the materials tested showed no Systems significant changes in physical or chemical properties, even following 500% typical use Since the early 2000s, studies H2O2 exposure (Flynn & Har- have been conducted to find ris, 2003). just what effect, if any, H2O2 systems have on the materials Seven years following the often present in industries that B&V findings, a 2010 study use them. This paper provides was conducted and funded by a quick guide to the history of the EPA, through its Office of these studies and their find- Research and Development’s ings, and those seeking more National Homeland Security comprehensive information Research Center. In this study, should refer to the works cited materials were classified into four sections and tested at 250 (EPA, 2010) ppm H2O2 concentration for 4 hours with initial RH of 35% Class 4 materials were made up (total CT of 1000 ppm-hr). of high-end electronic devices, Class 3 materials (cell phone, and included desktop comput- PDA, fax machine, dvds and ers and monitors. According to cds) were completely unaffect- the study, “No visual or func- ed by the H2O2 fogging (with tional changes were noted for the exception of a single PDA any Category 4 equipment that which appeared to have suf- had been exposed to H2O2, fered unrelated battery failure.) regardless of concentration and run conditions.” (U.S. EPA., The cell phones from each con- 2010) dition were able to send and re- ceive calls, provide clear audio In addition to the B&V and on both ends of the call, and EPA tests, there have also been maintain the same clear ring- a number of studies showing tone for incoming calls as they the material compatibility of had done prior to exposure. H2O2 systems in other indus- The keypads for each phone tries. One such test by the Fed- remained fully operational. eral Aviation Administration The batteries maintained their on the material compatibility capability to charge fully and of H2O2 on a number of dif- showed no physical signs of ferent commercial grade struc- damage… The same computer tural materials including 2024- was used to test the CDs and T351, 2024-T6 and 7075-T6 DVDs before and during the aluminum, 304 stainless steel, 12-month observation period carbon fiber/epoxy composites following exposure. No prob- and glass fiber/epoxy compos- lems were encountered reading ites, including FR4 laminate the disks at any time. materials widely used for print- ed circuit boards, found that Anodized aluminum 30 microns Brass sheet H2O2 systems were compatible Copper sheet across the board (Chou, S. F et Mild steel Stainless steel al., 2009). Brushed painted mild steel Epoxy painted mild steel Galvanized steel Polyester powder coated aluminum Stove enamel painted mild steel ABS Plastic Acrovyn “No visual or functional Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) Machinable Nylube PBC changes were noted... Neoprene regardless of concentration Perspex Polypropylene and run conditions.” Polythene PTFE PVC PVC foam Silicon rubber seal Torlon Material Compatibility Viton ® Desmopan timing drive belt of the HaloFogger Unit Door-closer with HaloSpray® Ceramic tiles Computer system with monitor Linear bearing Rubber floor tiles n 2012, Sanosil tested the I Window frame (double glazed) compatibility of a wide range of materials with HaloFogger’s Over the course of the tests, ready-to-use (RTU) H2O2 Sanosil found good compatibil- solution over a run cycle of 20 ity with all materials with the minutes and a setting time of exception of copper and mild 90 minutes. The materials in- steel. These materials saw no- cluded: ticeable changes and are not

Aluminum 5251/ H22 Sheet recommeneded for use with Aluminum Alloy Niploy Coated H2O2. Aluminum Bronze Conclusion demonstrated the exceptional efficacy and material compat- The use of fogged hydrogen ibility of H2O2 systems when peroxide has grown steadily used within those facilities in industries that require dis- that utilize exposed electronic infection and the elimination instruments by showing that, of micro-organisms. Its ability throughout multiple tests run by a variety of different enti- ties, H2O2 has excellent ma- terial compatibility within the healthcare industry.

The HaloFogger® is an innovative, hands free, to kill spores relatively quick- dry-mist dispensing de- ly and sterilize materials, has vice designed to deliver an been demonstrated in a vari- aerosolized drymist of con- ety of practical applications. centrated Halo(tm) Disin- Perhaps just as important as fectant to thoroughly treat biocidal efficacy however, is every expose surface within the material compatibility that a room. fogged hydrogen peroxide sys- tems have shown, particularly against materials commonly To find out more about found within the healthcare, this unique H2O2 system, pharma and biomedical indus- contact Quip today or visit tries. Studies have consistently www.QuipLabs.com. Works Cuted:

Agalloco, J. P., & Akers, J. E. (2013). Overcoming Limitations of Vaporized Hydrogen Perox-

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tech.com/pharmtech/Feature+Articles/Overcoming-Limitations-of-Vaporized-Hydro-

gen-Perox/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/823067?contextCategoryId=43497

ARLENE, N., & VESLEY, D. (1990). Vapor-Phase Hydrogen Peroxide as a Surface Decontaminant

andSterilant. Appl Environ Microbiology, 56(2), 503–506..

Center for Disease Control. (2009, December 29). http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/Disinfection_Steril-

ization/13_02sterilization.html. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/

bmbl5/bmbl5_appendixb.pdf

Chou, S. F., Sofyan N.I., Overfelt R.A., Sk M.H., Gale W.F., Shannon C.G., . . . Fergus J.F.

(2009). Evaluation of the effects of hydrogen peroxide on common aviation structural mate-

rials [electronic resource] (DOT/FAA/AM-09/23). Retrieved from Federal Aviation Adminis-

tration, Office of Aerospace Medicine website: http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/

med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2000s/2009/200923/

Flynn, N., & Harris, P. (2003). Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide)

Advanced Biodecontamination Advanced Biodecontamination Solutions (ABS). Retrieved

from B&V Testing website: http://www.bandvtesting.com/uploads/news/id49/B&V_Ar-

chive_decon_item2_VHP%20decon%20Life%20sciences.pdf

Sanosil. (2010). Sanosil® Halo Fogger Efficacy Study. Retrieved from ATS Labs, Eagan web-

site: http://gam-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Evaluation-of-the-Sanosil-Fog-

ging-Room-Disinfection-System-against-MRSA-and-Pseudomonas-Bacteria1.pdf Sanosil. (2012). Sanosil Fogging S010 Disinfectant Material Compatibility Study Recommenda-

tions. Retrieved from Sanosil website: http://gam-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/

Fogging-Sanosil-S010-Disinfectant-Material-Compatibility-Study-Recommendations.pdf

Tuladhara, E., Terpstrac, P., Koopmansa, M., & Duizer, E. (2012). Virucidal efficacy of hydrogen

peroxide vapour disinfection. Journal of Hospital Infection, 80(2), 110–115. Retrieved from

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670111004178

U.S. EPA. (2010). Compatibility of Material and Electronic Equipment With Hydrogen Peroxide

and Chlorine Dioxide Fumigation. Washington, DC: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

About Quip Laboratories, Inc.

Based in Wilmington, DE and founded in 1981, Quip Laboratories focuses on providing sanitation solutions to Life Science, Food Pro- cessing and Healthcare sectors. Their state-of-the-art manufactur- ing facility produces proprietary chemicals that have enabled the company to achieve a leadership position in the markets served.

Featuring in-house research and development, production, quality control and sales and marketing, Quip provides a "total-systems" approach to providing efficient and eco-gentle environment hy- giene. Find out more about us at Quip at www.quiplabs.com.