How HaloMist works

HaloMist™, our flagship hydrogen peroxide disinfectant, is a proven healthcare, research, and whole-room disinfection chemistry that utilizes a blend of hydrogen peroxide and silver for its efficacy. In this blog, we'll look at the science behind this unique disinfection formula, and why silver plays such an important role in both the efficacy and safety of HaloMist.

HaloMist's proprietary formula kickstarts the action by building on the individual biocidal powers of hydrogen peroxide and silver. The result is the immediate release of highly reactive free radicals that embark on a mission to dismantle the cell membrane of the targeted microorganism. Here's how they do it:

• Cell Membrane Attack

  The free radicals begin their assault by attacking and disrupting the cell membrane, weakening the microorganism's defenses.

• Enzyme Denaturation

  Next, they bind to the enzymes within the microorganism, causing denaturation. This renders the enzymes ineffective, further crippling the microorganism.

• DNA Replication Halt

  The silver and hydrogen peroxide also team up to bind to the microorganism's DNA, effectively putting a halt to replication.

Stability and efficiency

Silver's antimicrobial effects aren't new. In fact, silver is noted in the Hippocratic Corpus, ancient Greek medical texts, for its antimicrobial properties, and the ancient Greeks stored water and liquids in silver vessels for preservation. Over the centuries, its applications expanded from purifying water and treating ailments in the 900s, to wound treatment in the 1500s, and preventing infections in burns and wounds in the decades after. In the 1990s, silver began to be used in space travel for water sterilization.

When paired with H₂O₂, silver offers much-needed stability to the peroxide compound. This stabilizing effect ensures a prolonged and sustained release of H₂O₂, known for its ability to induce oxidative stress within microbial cells. Moreover, silver ions have an impressive range of antimicrobial actions on their own. They can disrupt proteins by binding to sulfhydryl groups, causing structural and functional havoc. Silver ions also interfere with bacterial energy production and respiration by disrupting the electron transport chain.

The silver advantage

One standout feature of silver's integration into HaloMist is its ability to maintain robust biocidal effectiveness even with lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. This not only enhances safety but also improves material compatibility, a significant advantage in the world of disinfection.

As the disinfection process unfolds, hydrogen peroxide transforms into harmless water and oxygen gas, creating a hostile environment for anaerobic microorganisms. When used on surfaces, HaloMist requires no rinsing, as it decomposes into water and oxygen, leaving no trace of chlorinated or brominated ingredients.