Selectrocide
EPA Registered and OMRI Organic Certified – Disinfectant, Sanitizer and Deodorizer
Selectrocide is an EPA registered and OMRI Organic Certified, chlorine dioxide-based bactericide, virucide, fungicide, algaecide, slimicide and deodorizer product. Selectrocide provides growers with a high efficiency, low toxicity disinfectant treatment against a broad spectrum of harmful microorganisms over a wide pH range (3 to 9).
Selectrocide’s patented technology is available in ready-to-use pouches that once activated with water, generate ultra-pure (99.9%) chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in neutrally-charged gas-in-water solutions. Due to this solubility characteristic, chlorine dioxide is free to diffuse or move within an irrigation line or spray solution and penetrate biofilm and microbial membranes, rapidly altering the shape of critical amino acids and inactivating RNA proteins required for biological function and life processes within living cells of harmful microbes.
Pure chlorine dioxide is a very powerful oxidizer and microbes and viruses are incapable of building up resistance. Selectrocide puts in the hands of growers what is considered to be one of the most, or the most effective, versatile and user-friendly choices for surface disinfection, sanitation and disease prevention.
Selectrocide is highly effective against a wide variety of microorganisms including germs, spores, viruses, fungi, mold and mildew and bacteria.
Is Selectrocide Safe?
While Selectrocide is a rapid and effective control agent for harmful microorganisms, it is practically harmless for animals and human beings. Chlorine dioxide is a volatile compound and it remains on treated surfaces for only a few minutes. This is at least 3 orders of magnitude needed to kill microbes (the killing time for bacterium is only a few milli-seconds), it is too short for chlorine dioxide to penetrate deep enough to create a hazard for humans or animals.
Is Selectrocide More Effective than other chlorinated products?
Both chlorine dioxide and other chlorinated products such as hypochlorous acid (HOCL) are rapid oxidizers of amino acids and both inactivate proteins. However, the chlorine dioxide molecule is far more selective (hence the name, Selectrocide) and specific in what materials are targeted. Selectrocide does not react with, or is very slow to react with most organic compounds. But it is highly reactive with electron-rich centers of “select” type of amino acids and RNA. Therefore its activity is very rapid, efficacious and because it does not waste its oxidative capacity (electrons) on non-effective organic constituents.
Unlike Selectrocide, other chlorinated products such as HOCl (hypochlorous acid), are much less specific and react rapidly with a much broader spectrum of amino acid residues and many other compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleobases and amines. This significantly reduces the oxidative capacity of these chlorinated products — requiring more product to disinfect than with Selectrocide.
When it comes to biocidal activity, Selectrocide is clearly the superior choice for disinfection applications including the disinfection of water that contains viruses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why haven’t I heard of Selectrocide?
Until Selectrocide’s patented chlorine dioxide technology was available, use was limited to municipal water purification or large industrial applications because of costs associated with production. Today, using Selectrocide only requires tap water to generate pure chlorine dioxide at a neutral pH.
Can I use Selectrocide on Organic Crops?
Yes. Selectrocide is OMRI Organic Certified. Selectrocide technology is eco-friendly requiring no special disposal or handling requirements. The activated solution has a neutral pH.
How long has chlorine dioxide been used in the U.S?
Chlorine dioxide (Selectrocide) has been used as a safe and effective biocide for over 7 decades. Its first reported use was for drinking was disinfection in 1944 at Niagra Falls, NY. Chlorine dioxide is currently used in over 500 water treatment plants in the U.S. and over 1000 in Europe.
How effective is Selectrocide against disease causing microbes and viruses?
Selectrocide is highly effective against a very broad spectrum of harmful microbial agents including bacteria, fungi, algae, yeasts, molds and viruses.
Chlorine dioxide was the principal agent used in the decontamination of building in the United States after the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Chlorine dioxide was also used after Hurricane Katrine (2005) to eradicate dangerous mold from houses inundated by water from massive flooding.
Does use of Selectricide create any harmful halogens?
Selectrocide does not create trihalomethanes (THMs) or haloacetic acids (HAA5s) that are known carcinogens.
What is the shelf life of Selectrocide?
The shelf life of Selectrocide is 18 months (from date of manufacture).