Technology

ABOUT ECA

ECA stands for electrochemical activation and is a technology that has been employed for more than 100 years, although it was not until the 1970s that the physicochemical properties of ECA were extensively researched at the All-Russian Institute for Medical Engineering.

The transformation of low mineral salt solutions into an activated metastable state, by electrochemical unipolar action, generates two separate and distinct compounds, generically termed anolyte and catholyte, which correspond to their derivative electrode chambers:

• the anodic (positive charge) solution contains a variety of oxidants, including hypochlorous acid, singlet oxygen, peroxide anion, superoxide, ozone, monoatomic oxygen, and free radicals, known to possess antimicrobial properties
• the cathodic (negative charge) solution develops detergent properties and contains sodium hydroxide in a highly excited state

The use of electrolysis for producing reductant-oxidant solutions is used in the processes of water purification and decontamination, as well as for transforming water or diluted electrolyte solutions into environmentally friendly anti-microbial, washing, extractive, and other functionally useful solutions.

This is largely due to ECA high activity, use of cheap raw materials, and ease of production.

The system produces a liquid disinfectant, non-toxic and degradable, capable of destroying bacteria, spores, viruses, moulds, yeasts, fungi, and biofilms (biological incrustations) on pipes and removing odors. Its operation requires only water, Sodium or Potassium Chloride (salt), and electricity.

HOW ECA WORKS

ECA works the same way as the human immune system. When the body is under attack from invading bacteria and viruses, the immune system immediately responds by sending neutrophils (white blood cells) to the invasion site.

Neutrophils are one of the body’s main defenses against bacteria and, once activated, produce large amounts of a mixed oxidant solution which effectively eliminates invading microbes and pathogens.

This weak acid, which occurs naturally in the human body, is called hypochlorous acid (HClO), and it is a potent disinfectant. It is non-toxic to humans and is highly effective as an antimicrobial agent with rapid action. Hypochlorous acid is widely recognized as one of the most effective known biocides.

In detail, the system consists of an electrolysis cell containing two electrodes, a cathode, and an anode, separated by a diaphragmatic membrane.
In the cell is injected an aqueous solution consisting of filtered and softened water and, depending on the application, sodium chloride (NaCl, salt) or potassium chloride (KCl). With the use of electricity with predefined and controlled amperage and voltage values, the cell produces an electrically-activated liquid, Anolyte, with high disinfection power that can be used in various applications.

This unipolar electrochemical activation created by potential gradients of millions of volts per cm2 between the anode and cathode terminals results in the creation of solutions whose pH, Oxidation-Reduction Potentials (ORP), and other physicochemical properties, lie outside of the range which can be achieved by conventional chemical means.

CHARACTERISTICS AND ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRO-ACTIVATED SOLUTIONS

Electro-activated solutions produced by the system are respectively:

• Acid Anolyte is a strong oxidizing and disinfecting agent and can be used wherever there are no constraints on the pH value (in the absence of corrosion hazards). Acid Anolyte acts extremely quickly and effectively against all bacteria, viruses, spores, moulds, fungi, and algae, even if diluted in water or nebulized;
• Neutral Anolyte is used wherever a neutral pH (corrosion risk) is needed. Neutral Anolyte is extremely effective against a wide range of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, spores, moulds, and fungi;
• Catolyte is a powerful reducing agent. It is alkaline and is an excellent detergent liquid that can also be used in the flocculation and precipitation of heavy metals. It can also be used in applications where pH correction is required;

As presented in several scientific publications, multicellular organisms, including humans and hot blood mammals, to defend themselves against pathogens and foreign microorganisms, can synthesize, through metabolism, complex mixtures of metastable oxidizing compounds.

These compounds possess a wide spectrum of action and can damage all major systemic groups of pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, mycobacteria, viruses, moulds, spores, etc.) without damaging multicellular organisms and human tissues.

The oxidizing liquids and their chemical production mechanisms are similar to those generated in our ECA system and are precisely these common characteristics that give Anolyte high biocompatibility with human tissues and multicellular organisms besides not being toxic to the environment.

Anolyte has the following advantages:

• It has a high ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) value of between 850 and 1200 mV, obtained thanks to the numerous oxidizing compounds present in large quantities, but each with low concentration; this peculiarity allows Anolyte to have much greater efficacy than chloramines, sodium hypochlorite, and most other disinfectant and sterilizing agents;
• It is a powerful biocidal product that kills pathogenic, viral, and fungal microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella Pneumophila, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Bacillus Cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Hepatitis B virus, virus Poliovirus, HIV, Adenovirus, Norovirus, pathogenic Tuberculosis, Dermatomycoses and other);
• Thanks to the mixture of various metastable active ingredients of which it is composed, Anolyte eliminates the ability to adapt the microorganisms to its bactericidal effect, thus not allowing the developing resistance;
• Has a low concentration of active oxygen and chlorine compounds, which guarantees absolute safety and non-toxicity to humans and animals, even after prolonged use of the Anolyte;
• Can be applied in the liquid form, ice or aerosol (mist), in pure or diluted form;
• Contrary to other disinfectants, it can be used as a multifunctional solution at all levels of disinfection, both as a detergent and as a sterilizer at the same time;
• Degrading various organic compounds into harmless residues;
• After its use, it degrades spontaneously without leading to the formation of toxic xenobiont (the synthesis products in biology);
• Does not require any neutralization before disposal;

Anolyte and Catholyte also have the following characteristics:

• Do not require special attention to handling;
• Can be used in all stages of disinfection (Anolyte) and cleaning (Catolyte);
• At recommended concentrations, do not bleach materials and surfaces;
• Are hypoallergenic;
• Have a quick action;
• Their production only develops water, hydrogen, and oxygen
• Generated by-products are not toxic, are environmentally friendly, and do not leave chemical residues;
• Can be generated in situ by eliminating the handling and storage of chemicals;
• Can be safely disposed of in sewage systems;

REACTRINA® TECHNOLOGY

Our ECA technology incorporates components with a unique architecture that makes it revolutionary. Unlike other cylindrical coaxial cells, which today are the most common and widely distributed on the market, our cell has been optimized, conceived, and developed with a special anode geometry that has allowed us to integrate a double electrodes (anode-cathode) cooling system.

The development and design of new components have helped solve the typical issues of this class of devices, increase performance and increase reliability through the following technical solutions:

• Special anode geometry;
• Double electrodes (anode-cathode) cooling system;
• Anode-cathode coupled without threads;
• Adjustable heads;
• Self-adjusting mounting system;
• Manual clamping with a pressure ring;

Which eliminates the typical problems of cylindrical coaxial cells, such as:

• Breaks, crevices, and cracks at junction points with the heads;
• Initiation and diffusion of etching phenomenon on the anode, with relative damage to the coating;
• Not optimal clamping of components;
• Excessive overheating in operation;
• Production of limited electro-activated solutions due to excessive heat development;

In particular, it should be noted that:

• The increase in production of electro-activated solutions requires an increase of current, the cell power current intensity, with a consequent increase of heat produced. Thanks to the integrated double electrodes cooling system (the world’s first and only for this cell class) and the geometry of the components, efficient and optimal heat recovery is guaranteed, with increased performance in terms of flow per single cell in absolute safety and reliability;
• The ECA production takes place with lower amounts of salt in the saturated aqueous solution and, therefore with less electrolyte, resulting in lower energy consumption and Chlorides residual;
• The residual Chlorides concentrations in ECA produced are negligible, with a reduction in environmental hazards due to the lack of xenobiont formation;

Our patented REACTRINA® technology mirrors the human immune system and generates HClO under specific electrochemical conditions using a combination of water, salt, and electricity to fight viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms.

REACTRINA® revolutionizes the coaxial electrochemical cell concept in these ways:

• it is a high-efficiency electrical cell: with low voltage and low salt consumption (1.6 -2.5 g/L)
• our cylindrical cell is the only product on the market with a double cooling electrode system: anode and cathode electrode cooled
• it is a high-efficiency chemical cell: slow flow without overheating
• allows the production of ultrapure Hypochlorous Acid, ensuring probably one of the lowest Chloride residues in the market.

RD-100 – For the production of 105 lt./h (Anolyte)

RD-300 – For the production of 305 lt./h (Anolyte)