A ready-to-use disinfectant and sanitizing solution created with the use of new mixing technology, promises residual long-lasting protection against viruses and bacteria.

The sustainable and environment-friendly technology also offers safety in handling and the products are not hazardous to users. Mixing and blending technology is used to render multiple, normally incompatible, biocides to be chemically stable, allowing them to work synergistically together.  The anti-microbial impact of the combined actives is said to be magnified, leading to the need for significantly reduced amounts of each active ingredient.

In addition, the active ingredients are bound together on a molecular core and form a non-leaching bond with most surfaces, allowing treated surfaces to retain the anti-microbial properties even when the surface is repeatedly touched or cleaned.

Launched in Norway in 2005 by Biosphere Innovation, the BarrierTech proprietary technology is now held by Vogt Holding and, according to the company, is the ideal biocide offering a unique combination of properties, including:

• A wide spectrum of activity
• Acts rapidly
• Microbicidal at ultra-low concentrations
• Cracks biofilms and prevents new ones from forming
• Has a residual effect after application
• Works under dirty conditions, not easily quenched
• Biodegradable, non-toxic, with a low cyto-toxicology
• Low resistance accumulation
• Safe for use, handling and transport
• Non-corrosive to products or surfaces
• Compatible in most applications

By using very low concentrations of each active ingredient, and by mixing them in a specific sequence, BarrierTech states that is has developed a very powerful disinfectant that is not classified as toxic or corrosive. The combination of multiple active ingredients and the molecular structure of the disinfectant products prohibits a build-up of resistance to the disinfectant.

In addition, the mixing technology is said to be flexible, allowing different combinations of actives to be used within different bases according to the requirements of the end-user. The technology is also modular, allowing for targeted effectiveness on specific bacteria, fungi, fungal spores and flora, viruses or on any combination of these, and it can be modified to fit particular application requirements.

BarrierTech is designed to act against microbes both physically and chemically, in order to eliminate mutation and prevent organisms from reproducing. Physical attack is achieved through the alteration of the surface structure of the treated area at the molecular level, so that microbes present in the surrounding environment, such as in water or air, cannot attach.  This feature aims to reduce the presence of microbes and provide long-lasting protection by inhibiting the organisms’ ability to proliferate and to form a self-protective bio-film.  The biocides also act chemically to induce cell lysis, or the bursting open of the cell walls, which is said to result in the rapid sanitization of surfaces.

The products are suitable for use in a number of industrial sectors, such as shipping, oil and gas, food and beverage, metalworking, healthcare and any environment that needs to be kept clean and sanitized.

Additional features of the BarrierTech products are:

• Bases are virtually colourless and odorless, making them particularly suited for use in very clean environments such as clean manufacturing, and food preparation
• Colour and fragrance can be added for commercial effect, if required
• It is non-hazardous
• Safe to use on hard or soft surfaces
• Provides effective antimicrobial protection
• Removes and prevents biofilm build-up
• Is safe to use – very gentle and non-corrosive
• Is alcohol free and non-flammable
• Provides active and preventative protection
• Does not harm humans or the environment and can be used safely in skin sanitizing products and cosmetics
• Has a wide range of applications
• Bonding characteristics make it ideal as a component of active filters, such as those used in bio-technology fields as well as air or water-conditioning filter units
• Shelf life is usually two years or more
• Ultra-low concentration of active ingredients, allows for more cost-effective formulations

The products are available in two main formulations, namely MF-barrier, which is a multiple biocide formulation and is the basis for surface sanitation, cooling towers, hand sanitizers and potable drinking water systems and PowerPrep, which is a degreaser formulation.

BarrierTech offers its standard product portfolio based on these two concentrates and dilutes, packs and label its products for different applications.