Joe,

There would not be any chemical reaction between the cleaner disinfectant and propylene glycol.

The active ingredients are quaternary ammonium salts which are not reactive with water or alcohols at ambient temperatures. Although not listed, the "inert ingredients" is mostly water and the EPA registration indicates that it is not alcohol based. But mixing with propylene glycol will be fine.

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/001839-00220-20130624..pdf

The only real issue is dilution. The EPA registration requires a certain concentration of quaternary ammonium salts to be effective for sterilization of bacteria and enveloped viruses. Since the product recommends a 2 minute contact time, if the firefighters only minimally dilute and use a 15 minute contact time, they should be fine.

Best,

Craig

Craig A. Merlic

Our Operations Manager received an urgent call from a local Fire Department regarding the use of a fogger to disperse a mixture of a Cleaner Disinfectant and Propylene Glycol.

The Fire Department is looking for some advice about something they are trying to do sanitize their fire trucks and other equipment.

They are trying to create a fog of disinfectant cleaner using a Ryobe cordless fogger.  The cleaner disinfectant has the following composition:

Alkyl (60% C14, 30% C16, 5% C12, 5% C18) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides               0.15%

Alkyl (68% C12, 32% C14) dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides                                       0.15%

Inert Ingredients                                                                                                                                              99.70%

(Made by Spectral Chemical Co., Inc., Product SC-RTU-360)

However, with the disinfectant alone they were getting more of a mist than a fog.  Some of the firemen started experimenting and found that if they mixed propylene glycol with the disinfectant they got a much better fog.  The fog allows them to cover the fire trucks and other equipment with the mixture and allow it to sit for 15 minutes or so before rinsing off.

One note, this disinfectant has been approved by the EPA for use against COVID-19.

The Fire Department is interested in knowing if there is any chemical reaction between the cleaner disinfectant and the propylene glycol they should worry about and any health and safety aspects to consider.

Would appreciate any comments so we can provide assistance as requested.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Joe

Joseph C. Peters, PE

Senior Director  |  Process Technology

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