The global emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the urgent need for effective disinfection strategies to mitigate virus transmission. Electrolyzed water (EW), an eco-friendly and cost-effective biocidal agent, has garnered attention for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This study evaluates the virucidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal capacities of EW with diverse pH, with a focus on its effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. EW was generated under controlled conditions with adjustable pH (4.5 and 6.1) and free available chlorine (FAC) concentrations (300-1000 ppm). The biocidal activity was tested on surfaces and in solution following standardized protocols. Results demonstrated that oxidized EW at optimized concentrations achieved a ≥ 4 log reduction in bacterial populations and effectively inactivated enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, but this effect depends on FAC, pH, and contact time. Notably, EW reduced SARS-CoV-2 by > 4 log in solution and surfaces, in only 2 and 5 min, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of EW as a sustainable, multi-application disinfectant to combat emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, ensuring public health safety.
Keywords: Electrolyzed water; Free available chlorine; Microorganisms; SARS-COV-2; pH.
© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.