Electrolyzed Water is pH neutral, super-oxidized water that is non-toxic and has an extended shelf life. Neutral Electrolyzed Water (Blue Magic) is also known as ‘Clenox’ or ‘Suprox’.  

“Super-oxidized water” is water that has had an electric current passed through it, thereby generating a number of oxidized species. This is an electrochemical (or oxidation-reduction) process. Specifically, it is an electrolysis process. This oxidation-reduction process is also known as Electro-Chemical Activation (ECA Technology).

In the early development of “Super-Oxidized Water”, electrolytic cells were only capable of generating small volumes of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) with a limited shelf life.

In recent years, electrolyzed water has been introduced as a high-level disinfectant, not corrosive and able to penetrate cell membranes more easily.

“Super-Oxidized Waters” are generated by electrolysis of a dilute NaCI solution passing through an electrolytic cell. ‘AEW’ has a strong bactericidal effect on most known pathogenic bacteria due to its low pH (2-4) and high oxidation-reduction potential (ORP > 1000 m V), and because it contains active oxidizers like Hypochlorous Acid, it is effective in killing food-borne pathogens in Vitro conditions and in reducing microbial counts and pathogens in vegetables

A part of the product formed at the cathode is redirected into the anode chamber, thus increasing the content of OCL^- ions.

Because of its neutral pH, Blue Magic does not contribute as aggressively as ‘AEW’ to the corrosion of processing equipment or irritation of hands, and is more stable as chlorine loss is significantly reduced at pH 6-9. Independent research has evaluated the effect of Blue Magic on total microbial count obtaining reductions is superior to ‘AEW’ or Sodium Hypochlorite.

ECA Technology (Electrolyses of molten salts)

The traditional electrolysis process results in unstable oxidized water and formation of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL).

ECA Technology utilizes Electrolytic Cells where the anode chamber is separated by a unidirectional permeable membrane from the cathode chamber. The Electrolytic Cell allows migration of ions through the membrane and separation of such ions and prevention of production of gaseous chlorine (CL₂).

Electrolytic Flow Cells

CWG’s Electrolytic Flow Cells provide for safe and effective control of pathogens, when used as directed applying a rectified AC current voltage.

All components are produced within the US and supplied under manufacturers’ warranty: No leakages at 45psi pressure, no leaching of heavy metals into the disinfecting liquid and an extreme long lifetime of electrodes and membrane are guaranteed.

Electrolytic Flow Cells should be returned to and reconditioned by CWG after approximately 1 year of service in order to guarantee the disinfecting properties. An Electric Flow Cell can be reconditioned up to 5 times.

An ECA electrolysis process is one in which positive and negative electrodes are submerged in a solute containing positive and negative ions.

Positive ions (cations) are drawn towards the negative electrode, where they receive electrons from the electron-rich cathode and neutral atoms or molecules are formed.

At the anode (positive electrode) negative ions (anions) are attracted, which give up their additional electrons to the electron-depleted anode.

The extra electrons from the cathode effectively flow through the solvent to the anode and an electric current flow.

There are very many reactions that may occur when water (H2O) is electrolyzed, for example (E0 is the standard redox potential)*:

O2 + H + e- HO2 E0 = - 0.13 V [1]
2H+ + 2e- H2 E0 = 0.00 V [2]
HO2 + H+ + e- H2O2 E0 = +1.50 V [3]
O3 + 2H+ + 2e- O2 + H2O E0 = +2.07 V [4]
OH- + H+ + e- H2O E0 = +2.85 V [5]
H2O + e- H+ OH- E0 = - 2.93 V [6]
OH+ e- OH- E0 = +2.02 V [7]

The equations above are not a complete list, but give examples of some of the reactions that may take place. Notably, they show that electrolysis of water may produces H⁺ and OH ions, H and OH radicals, H₂, O₂, HO₂, O₃ and the like due to redox reactions. As a direct result of electrolysis, hydrogen and ozone gas are released and a percentage of hydroxides remain in the solution in various forms including but not limited to hydrogen peroxide

The addition of sodium chloride (table salt) can lead to the following additional reactions:

On the cathode side

Na+ + e- Na [8]
2Na + 2H2O 2Na+ + 2OH- + H2 [9]

and at the anode side

2Cl- - 2e- Cl2 [10]

It should further be noted that the Cl₂ and OH- can react as follows*:

Cl2 + 2OH- ClO- + Cl- + H2O [11]
Cl2 + OH- HClO + Cl- [12]

Chemistry

Blue Magic  is manufactured through validated processes and devices in accordance with EPA and ISO standards.  Not only Blue Magic can be produced in large volume (making onsite –production of ‘Blue Magic’ commercial attractive. Blue Magic  has also an extended shelf life as a result of using a rectified AC-voltage on CWG’s patented Electrolytic Cell. 

The general product specification of Blue Magic  is: 

·        pH 6.8 –7.8*

·        Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) > 800mV

·        Free Available Chlorine (FAC) 50-500 ppm**

·        EC 5-15ppm***

*the pH of ‘Blue Magic’ can be adjusted by the operator from acidic to alkaline.

** the amount of free available chlorine can be adjusted by the operator.

*** varies with the amount of free available chlorine

Free Available Chlorine (FAC) is essentially all chlorine species that are not combined with ammonia (or other nitrogenous compounds) to form chloramines.

The known chemical species present in Blue Magic are:

·        Hypochlorous Acid

·        Sodium Hypochlorite

·        Sodium Chloride

Therefore, the HOCL concentration claimed in Blue Magic is believed to comprise of a combination of variation of chlorine ions and not necessarily HOCL.

Where the concentrations of each chemical are determined by the current density, pH and other important process parameters.

Stability

Many “Super-Oxidized Waters” are only stable for a few hours and are produced with Electrolytic cells that are very limited in production capacity as well as limited in lifetime.  

Free available chlorine in ‘AEW’ proved to be unstable and easily evaporates from the water, causing immediately a strong chlorine smell and complicating storage, transport and usage of ‘AEW’. Blue Magic is stable for at least one month, although it is still highly recommended to use freshly generated Blue Magic.  

Several parameters can be measured in order to establish the shelf life of Blue Magic . These include pH, ORP and FAC.   

Another commonly used method revolved around Blue Magic’s ability to kill spores of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium known to be amongst the most resilient to chlorine.  

Today, this still proves to be a useful measurement to determine the shelf life of Blue Magic, since it is ultimately this anti-microbial nature that is key to ‘Blue Magic^’s action as a high-level disinfectant and is believed to be a major part of its success as a disinfectant.  

Various microbial efficacy testing have been conducted by third parties on the microbial efficacy of Blue Magic. Normally microbial efficacy is measured by suspension test

·        Staphylococcus aureus

·        Staphylococcus epidermidis

·        Enterococcus hirae  

·        Escherichia coli

·        Pseudomonas aeruginosa

·        Bacillus subtilis

Based on various bactericidal, fungicidal and sporicidal testing performed to date, it can be stated that all the microbial testing requirements for Blue Magic

have been met or exceeded. Blue Magic proved to be a high-level disinfectant.

The mechanism of action for how Blue Magic eradicates these various micro-organisms is well documented both by third party resources. The mode of action is as follows:

·        The free ions in Blue Magic rapidly react and denature proteins. Blue Magic should not be used on protein based products, since it will react and destroy the proteins.

·        Once Blue Magic comes in contact with a microorganism, it attacks the bacterial proteins located in the cell membranes. Blue Magic's superiority is in that Blue Magic will eradicate similarly the antibiotic resistant strains including MRSA and VRE.

·        Secondly, because of the osmolarity difference (the conc. Of ion in the solution versus in the cytoplasm), ‘Blue Magic’ will induce a rupture on the cell membrane leading to cell lysis. 

Since Blue Magic consists of both HOCL and OCL^-; it is believed that the bactericidal action exhibited is due to the combination of these substances. 

However, as previously noted, Sodium Hypochlorite or Gaseous Chlorine at the same concentration of that found in Blue Magicleads to slower microbial kill and more corrosion when tested per ASTM guidelines. 

No evidence of toxicity in any form has been observed in any of the third party testing*.

Moreover, the review of relevant literature has revealed that HOCL and OCL^-, at the low doses in Blue Magic supports this and the weight of evidence is that these chemicals do not produce toxic effects.

Based on all this information, it can reasonably be concluded that Blue Magic is non-toxic and safe to use in the industries and applications considered by CWG.

* Data obtained from independent testing executed outside the USA by third parties.