ESOL™ is created in a Bridge Biotechnology ESOL™ Generator using only three ingredients; Tap water, salt and electricity.
ESOL™ is produced by the electrolysis of ordinary tap water containing saline (salt). The electrolysis process produces two separate solutions from a double chambered ESOL cell; the positive chamber produces a solution containing a range of oxidisers and a small amount of hypochlorous acid. The negative chamber produces sodium hydroxide.
The resulting ‘water’ from the positive chamber is ESOL™ an effective disinfectant.
Electrolyzed water is known by several different names:
- EOW
- ECA
- Electrolyzed oxidizing water
- Electro-activated water
- Electro-chemically activated water solution
- Electrolysed water (UK spelling)
ESOL™ looks and feels just like ordinary water, it is non-toxic and turns back to ordinary water. This means that it is safe to touch, consume and return to the environment.
Despite this, it is capable of extraordinary disinfection and is proven to effectively destroy pathogens, including:
- MRSA
- E-coli
- Salmonella
- Norovirus
- Legionella
- Listeria
- Clostridium difficile
What can Electrolyzed water be used for?
Electrolyzed water is being used in a variety of industries:
- Drinking water disinfection
- Biofilm control
- Swimming pool treatment
- Fruit and vegetable preservation
- Animal husbandry
- Brewing industry
And can be applied using different methods:
- Liquid solution
- Fogged
- Misted
- Sprayed
- Frozen
How does ESOL™ work?
When immersed in ESOL™ a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism, that can cause disease, will come into contact with powerful oxidants.
In recent years, the word ‘anti-oxidant’ has become increasingly common place when referring to health, food and dietary supplements. So the logical train of thought would suggest that ‘oxidant’ may carry negative connotations.
However, depending on the subject matter, oxidants or oxidisation can become very powerful when used to remove electrons.
When bacteria comes into contact with these oxidants, the electrons are removed, causing the biochemical bonds to rupture and render its function; effectively ‘killing’ the bacteria
This is often described as an 'oxidative stress'.
This oxidative stress leads to a rapid destruction of pathogens, with most bacteria, viruses and fungi being destroyed within two seconds.
What is ORP - Oxidation Reduction Potential?
Oxidation Reduction Potential or ORP for short is a term used frequently in the water treatment & food processing industry.
ORP is a measure of the disinfection potential of the water & its activity on contaminants found in that water.
Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) is a scale used to measure the tendency of a solution to gain electrons from other solutions. Units are in “mV” (millivolts).
ESOL™ in its pure form has an ORP of between 1100 – 1200mV making it particularly effective at exerting an oxidative stress on pathogens and its disinfection effect is in the millisecond range rather than seconds.
Since 2013 Bridge Biotechnology has collaborated with partners to develop a compact and portable water purification system capable of delivering clean drinking water at source using ESOL rather than chlorine to disinfect the water.
Related content: Tackling the global need for clean drinking water
The technology has also been used to control pathogens on the surfaces of harvested fruits and vegetables when applied in the form of a “dry fog”, extending shelf life and eliminating the potential for disease outbreaks in consumers.
Related content: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Preservation
Is ESOL™ Electrolyzed water safe?
The short answer to this is yes, ESOL Electrolyzed water is safe to humans, animals and the environment.
ESOL has also been approved under regulation 31 of the Water Supply Regulations 2000 for use in public water supplies in the UK.
Barry Greig, Senior Policy Advisor of the Scottish Government Water Industry Team, discusses Bridge Biotechnology's developments
