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Technology
How Kirkmayer's ECA generators work.
Electrochemical activation (ECA) turns water, salt and electricity into two active solutions: anolyte, a powerful natural disinfectant, and catholyte, a non-foaming cleaner — with no added chemicals and no toxic residue.
One process — two solutions
Electrolysis splits water into a disinfectant and a cleaner
Kirkmayer's cylindrical cell produces both solutions at once from a single feed of water and salt — no added reagents, no chemical storage.
- 01 · Input
Water, salt and current
Filtered, softened water with sodium or potassium chloride, at a controlled current and voltage.
H₂ONaClDC - 02 · Cell
REACTRINA® cell
A double-cooled coaxial cell splits the flow into an anodic and a cathodic chamber.
- 03a · Anolyte
Hypochlorous acid (HClO)
A high-efficacy, broad-spectrum disinfectant that eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores on contact.
400 ppm · pH 7
- 03b · Catholyte
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
A non-foaming, broad-purpose cleaning solution that cuts grease and organic residue on contact surfaces.
pH 12–13 · ≈3%
A typical installation — water is filtered and softened, brine is fed to the generator, and HClO is dosed into the water line by a metering pump.
The system is an electrolysis cell with two electrodes — an anode and a cathode — separated by a diaphragm membrane. Filtered, softened water with sodium chloride (salt) or potassium chloride, depending on the application, is fed into the cell. With electricity at predefined, controlled amperage and voltage, the cell produces anolyte, an electro-activated liquid with high disinfecting power. Potential gradients of millions of volts per cm² between anode and cathode give the solutions a pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and other properties outside the range conventional chemistry can reach.
ECA works the same way as the human immune system. When the body is attacked by bacteria and viruses, neutrophils — white blood cells — produce a mixed oxidant solution that eliminates the invading microbes. That weak acid, which occurs naturally in the body, is hypochlorous acid (HClO): non-toxic to humans, fast-acting, and widely recognised as one of the most effective biocides known.
About ECA
A century-old principle, researched since the 1970s
Electrochemical activation has been used for more than 100 years, but it was not until the 1970s that its physicochemical properties were researched extensively, at the All-Russian Institute for Medical Engineering.
Unipolar electrochemical action transforms a low-mineral salt solution into an activated, metastable state and produces two distinct solutions — anolyte and catholyte — named after the electrode chamber each comes from.
Anolyte — anodic chamber (positive charge)
Contains a mix of oxidants — hypochlorous acid, singlet oxygen, peroxide anion, superoxide, ozone, monoatomic oxygen and free radicals — known for their antimicrobial properties.
Catholyte — cathodic chamber (negative charge)
Develops detergent properties and contains sodium hydroxide in a highly excited state.
Electrolysis is used to purify and decontaminate water, and to turn water or dilute electrolyte solutions into environmentally friendly antimicrobial, washing and extraction solutions — largely thanks to ECA's high activity, cheap raw materials and ease of production.
The result is a liquid disinfectant, non-toxic and degradable, that destroys bacteria, spores, viruses, moulds, yeasts, fungi and biofilms in pipes, and removes odours. All it needs is water, sodium or potassium chloride (salt), and electricity.
Characteristics
Three solutions from one cell
Depending on configuration, the system produces acid anolyte, neutral anolyte and catholyte.
- Acid anolyte · pH 2.5 / 5.0
A strong oxidising and disinfecting agent, for use wherever pH is not a constraint (no corrosion risk). Acts extremely quickly against bacteria, viruses, spores, moulds, fungi and algae — even diluted in water or nebulised.
- Active element
- Active Cl 500 / 700 ppm
- ORP / redox
- 1200 / 1000 mV
- Neutral anolyte · pH 6.0 / 8.0
For wherever a neutral pH is needed because of corrosion risk. Extremely effective against a wide range of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, spores, moulds and fungi.
- Active element
- Active Cl 500 / 700 ppm
- ORP / redox
- 950 / 850 mV
- Catholyte · pH 10.0 / 12.0
A powerful reducing agent. Alkaline and an excellent detergent; also used for flocculation and precipitation of heavy metals, and wherever pH correction is required.
- Active element
- Sodium hydroxide 1000 ppm
- ORP / redox
- −800 / −900 mV
Advantages
Why anolyte outperforms conventional disinfectants
Anolyte
- A high oxidation-reduction potential of 850–1200 mV, from many oxidising compounds each at low concentration — far more effective than chloramines, sodium hypochlorite and most other disinfectants and sterilising agents.
- A powerful biocide against pathogenic, viral and fungal microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, hepatitis B virus, poliovirus, HIV, adenovirus, norovirus, tuberculosis and dermatomycoses.
- Its mix of metastable active ingredients stops microorganisms from adapting to it, so resistance doesn't develop.
- A low concentration of active oxygen and chlorine compounds keeps it safe and non-toxic for people and animals, even with prolonged use.
- Can be applied as a liquid, ice or aerosol (mist), pure or diluted.
- Works at every level of disinfection — as a detergent and a sterilant at the same time.
- Breaks down organic compounds into harmless residues, and degrades spontaneously after use without forming toxic xenobiotics.
- Needs no neutralisation before disposal.
Anolyte and catholyte
- Need no special handling precautions.
- Cover every stage of disinfection (anolyte) and cleaning (catholyte).
- Don't bleach materials or surfaces at recommended concentrations.
- Are hypoallergenic and act quickly.
- Production releases only water, hydrogen and oxygen; byproducts are non-toxic and leave no chemical residue.
- Are generated on site — no handling or storage of chemicals.
- Can be safely disposed of into sewage systems.
REACTRINA® technology
The first double-cooled coaxial cell
Our ECA technology uses components with a unique architecture. Unlike the cylindrical coaxial cells most common on the market, our cell was designed around a special anode geometry that allowed us to integrate cooling for both electrodes — anode and cathode.
Our patented REACTRINA® technology mirrors the human immune system: it generates HClO under specific electrochemical conditions from water, salt and electricity to fight viruses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
- A high-efficiency electrical cell — low voltage and low salt consumption (1.6–2.5 g/L).
- The only cylindrical cell on the market with both electrodes — anode and cathode — cooled.
- A high-efficiency chemical cell — slow flow without overheating.
- Produces ultrapure hypochlorous acid, with probably one of the lowest chloride residues on the market.
What makes REACTRINA® different
Double-cooled coaxial cell
Both the anode and cathode are actively cooled — the world's first and only cell of this class to cool both electrodes.
Special anode geometry
A purpose-built electrode shape that keeps current density — and output — stable across the cell's service life.
Adjustable, self-adjusting heads
A self-adjusting mounting system keeps electrode spacing consistent as components wear, with no manual recalibration.
Lower salt, lower chloride residue
Runs on a lower salt concentration than conventional cells, producing ultrapure HClO with one of the lowest chloride residues on the market.
First double-cooled cells in the world
Engineering solutions
- Special anode geometry
- Double electrode (anode–cathode) cooling system
- Anode and cathode coupled without threads
- Adjustable heads
- Self-adjusting mounting system
- Manual clamping with a pressure ring
Problems it eliminates
- Breaks, crevices and cracks where the electrodes meet the heads
- Etching on the anode and the resulting damage to its coating
- Poor clamping of components
- Excessive overheating in operation
- Limited output caused by excess heat
In practice
- Higher output needs more current, which produces more heat. The integrated double cooling system and component geometry recover that heat efficiently, so a single cell delivers more flow, safely and reliably.
- Production runs on less salt in the saturated solution — less electrolyte means lower energy use and lower residual chlorides.
- Residual chloride in the finished solution is negligible, reducing environmental risk with no xenobiotic formation.
Laboratory results
Tested to European standards.
- bactericidal reduction in 60 seconds (EN 13727)
- ≥ 5 log
- against Legionella pneumophila (EN 1276)
- > 5.28 log
- hazard statements under REACH
- 0