Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Antimicrobial Resistance Research with Innovative Approaches and Synthetic Compounds
Published on: September 27, 2024
Assessment of alkylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid formulations for cleaning and disinfection of environmental
K Rajitha1, G Kiran Kumar Reddy1, Y V Nancharaiah1
1Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Chemistry Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam 603102, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
Background:
Surface disinfection is fundamental to good environmental hygiene and preventing infections. Development of newer formulations that can effectively kill and remove microorganisms from the surfaces is desired.
Methods:
Here, we assessed the efficacy of 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [C16MIM][Cl] ionic liquid (IL) and its formulation in ethanol for killing and removing bacteria from different environmental surfaces. Efficacy of IL and its formulation was determined on known monospecies bacterial cultures and unknown multispecies bacterial cultures on environmental surfaces.
Result:
The surface disinfection efficacy of [C16MIM][Cl] was concentration dependent and achieved 41 to 100% reduction in total viable bacterial counts of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at varied concentrations. The treatment of wooden surface with 0.1% [C16MIM][Cl] caused 98% reduction in bacterial load within 20 s contact time as against mere 45% reduction (20 s) with 70% ethanol. Antibacterial and surface disinfection activities of [C16MIM][Cl] have increased markedly when prepared in 70% ethanol, suggesting synergistic activity. A formulation comprising of 0.01% [C16MIM][Cl] in 70% ethanol showed effective surface disinfection and achieved 95% to 98% reduction in bacterial load on different surfaces.
Conclusion:
Ionic liquids are potent candidates for disinfection of environmental surfaces.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chemical Agents for Microbial Control
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
02:45Alkyl Halides
Alkyl halides are halogen-substituted alkanes wherein one or more hydrogen atoms of an alkane is replaced by a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. The carbon atom in an alkyl halide is bonded to the halogen atom, which is sp3-hybridized and exhibits a tetrahedral shape.
Unlike alkyl halides, compounds in which a halogen atom is bonded to an sp2 -hybridized carbon atom of a carbon-carbon double bond (C=C) are called vinyl halides. Whereas aryl...
01:26Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness