Hypochlorous Acid Disinfection System

Tomco Equipment Company> has developed an enhanced disinfection system for the poultry industry. According to company representatives the new system, named the "Hypochlorous Acid System", combines TOMCO₂'s Pressurized Solution Feed pH Control Systems with the chlorinated wash water to produce a controlled solution that contains the maximum available amount of hypochlorous acid (HOCI) at all times.

Hypochlorous acid, which is extremely pH dependent, is the most effective sanitizer produced when chlorine is added to water. At a pH of 6.5, 90% of the chlorine will be in the form of hypochlorous acid. At a pH of 7.5 only 50% of the chlorine will be hypochlorous acid and at a pH of 8.0 less than 20% of the chlorine will be in the form of hypochlorous acid. Above 7.5 pH very little chlorine occurs as active hypochlorous acid, but rather as inactive hypochlorite (OCI-). Therefore the pH of the water must be kept between 6.0 and 7.5 to ensure chlorine activity.

Terms such as total chlorine, free chlorine, residual chlorine, chlorine gas, hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid are enough to confuse the most dedicated sanitation manager. Of the many forms of chlorine, hypochlorous acid is the really good disinfectant. Thus, in the management of chlorine, you want to maximize the hypochlorous acid and minimize all the other forms of chlorine.

According to TOMCO₂ the "Hypochlorous Acid System" will consistently produce a minimum of 90% hypochlorous acid at all times which makes it extremely effective at pathogen reduction. In a recent test for a major southeastern poultry processor the companies report that the "Hypochlorous Acid System" repeatedly reduced salmonella counts, in post-chiller tests, from an average of over 30% positive with chlorine alone to less than 5% when using the system.

The system can be used anywhere in the plant that disinfectants are currently being used, from evisceration lines to birdwashers to chillers to continuous belt washing. For more information call TOMCO₂ at 800- 832-4262 or visit them on the web at www.tomcoequipment.com.