Hand Sanitizer: Formulation and Usage

Hand Sanitizer Usage: A Smart Way to Stay Healthy in Pandemic

Introduction

Hand hygiene is an effective solution to stay disease-free, especially during a pandemic. Your hands can contact many pathogens as you touch various surfaces in your day-to-day activities. Hand sanitizer is a smart and excellent way to eliminate germs, as washing hands with water and soap is not feasible at all times.

But are you tired of sanitizing your hands repeatedly during the pandemic? Here’s the solution. A revolutionary product Just Human 24 Hour Protection Hand Sanitizer works constantly and provides 24-hour protection from deadly germs and pathogens just by using it once a day.

How do sanitizers work?

Hand sanitizer is a liquid applied to the hands to remove bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, as an alternative to hand wash. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol effectively kill microorganisms. Alcohol in the hand sanitizers attacks the cell structure of bacteria and disrupts the outer coat of viruses, denatures them, and inactivates them.

Chemically, hand sanitizers can be categorized into two groups:

  •       Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS)
  •       Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer (NABHS) (contain benzalkonium       chloride)

ABHS can quickly reduce the number of microorganisms. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends alcohol-based hand sanitizers as these are microbicidal, faster-acting, and cost-effective.

CDC recommends that in the absence of soap and water, a sufficient quantity of ABHS should be applied to cover the whole surface of your hands. The hands should be rubbed together for about 20 seconds and then allowed to dry.

Hand sanitizer formulation method

Before the pandemic, hand sanitizers were highly under-rated, with only a few people using them. But the pandemic has changed the scenario, and their demand has increased multifold. The markets are also flooded with a variety of hand sanitizers. Many hand sanitizer manufacturers in India are involved in the production of hand sanitizers as per the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) regulates hand sanitizer as an Over-The-Counter (OTC) product as this helps prevent diseases. However, due to the pandemic outbreak, USFDA has given some relaxation and issued guidance to the manufacturers to produce hand sanitizers. A hand sanitizer should contain the following ingredients: 

  •       Alcohol (Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol)
  •       Glycerin
  •       Hydrogen peroxide
  •       Sterile water

USFDA also recommends that the concentration of these ingredients should be as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. WHO has issued a premium and step-by-step guide for the local production of hand sanitizers.

The following two formulations are recommended for the small-scale production of hand sanitizers:

Formulation 1

  •       Alcohol (Ethanol)  
  •       Glycerin (glycerol)
  •       Hydrogen peroxide
  •       Sterile distilled water or boiled cold water

The alcohol (Ethanol) is poured into a large container. To this, glycerin and hydrogen peroxide are added using measuring cylinders. Next, the container is topped up by adding distilled water up to the desired mark. Then, ingredients are mixed by gently shaking the container for small quantities or using a metallic paddle for large quantities.

Formulation 2

  •       Isopropyl Alcohol
  •       Glycerin (glycerol)
  •       Hydrogen peroxide
  •       Sterile distilled water or boiled cold water

Mix all the ingredients. A glass or plastic bottle can be used for 10-liter capacity production, and a large plastic or stainless steel tank can be used for 50-liter capacity as it allows proper mixing.

How to test the quality of alcohol in hand sanitizer? 

Mass production can lead to quality compromise, and with new manufacturers pitching in, a quality control process is mandatory to ensure the safety and efficacy of these products.

As per WHO guidelines, alcohol concentration can be analyzed using an alcoholmeter, and necessary adjustments can be made to meet the final recommended concentration. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration can be tested by a titrimetric method.

A higher-level analytical procedure can also be performed for the quality control of hand sanitizers. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method tests the correct amount of labeled ingredients and checks impurities in the hand sanitizers. In addition, the absence of microbial contamination can be checked by filtration as per European Pharmacopeia specifications.

Hand sanitizers should be labeled properly as per the guidelines. Specific guidelines are issued for the production and storage of raw material and finished products as alcohol is highly flammable.

Safety issues

It has been found that alcohol-based hand sanitizers work better than washing hands with soap and water. Washing hands repeatedly with soap or surfactants may remove cell components, alter skin structure, disrupt the skin barrier, and lead to skin irritation.

How to select hand sanitizers

Nowadays, a variety of hand sanitizers are available online. CDC listed that while shopping for hand sanitizer, it should be ensured that-

  •       It should not be alcohol-free
  •       It should contain at least 60% alcohol

Just Human 24 Hour Protection Hand Sanitizer is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). It has been licensed for manufacture by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It is designed with Proprietary technology from the United States and tested at certified labs. It contains the following ingredients-

  •       70% Ethyl Alcohol to kill germs
  •       Deionized water to keep skin hydrated
  •       Proprietary smart molecule to give it 24 hours long-lasting signature superpower- the bionic shield, which once dried, remain intact even after hand wash
  •       Moisturizing element to keep hands safe

Millions of people use hand sanitizers multiple times a day to stay safe from germs, but still, they contract the diseases. Whereas, Just Human 24 Hour Protection Hand Sanitizer forms an invisible bionic shield around your hands just after a single application that works for 24 hours.

It protects you by killing bacteria and pathogens like E. Coli, S. Epidermidis, P. Aureus, P. Aeruginosa, etc. In the absence of soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective against a wide range of microorganisms. 

Conclusion

Sanitizing your hands is as essential as any other daily routine to be healthy all the time. Just Human 24 Hour Protection Hand Sanitizer is a quick and easy-to-use alternative to handwashing during outdoor hours, more so in the current pandemic. To use Just Human 24 Hour Protection Hand Sanitizer once in a whole day is what makes you feel like a normal human again.

You should sanitize your hands to keep germs at bay and stay safe especially, during a pandemic. Several hand sanitizer manufacturers in India are involved in the production of sanitizers to meet the current need. You can buy hand sanitizer online to prevent exposure to viruses. We recommend you use our innovative and skin-friendly hand wash to stay healthy.