Saniquats: A Quaternary Ammonium Compound Sanitiser

Saniquats: A Quaternary Ammonium Compound Sanitiser

MPI APPROVED (C43)

Saniquats is a quaternary ammonium compound sanitizer that is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Saniquats can be used to disinfect and sanitise food processing, serving, eating, and dispensing equipment, as well as hard, non-porous surfaces. Saniquats is suitable for use in the food processing and dairy industries, as well as in the fishing industry.

Product Benefits:

Saniquats has several benefits for users in the food processing and dairy industries, such as:

• Effective sanitiser against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• Compatible with most materials and does not corrode or stain equipment or surfaces.
• Easy to use and does not require rinsing in some situations.
• Economical and has a long shelf life.
• MPI Approved! (MPI-C43)

Applications:

• Food Processing industries
• Dairy industry
• Fishing and Fish Processing industries

How to use Saniquats:

Saniquats can be applied by immersion, spray, or hand scrubbing, preferably with hot water. The following steps should be followed:

• Clean the soiled surface thoroughly and rinse with water.
• Apply Saniquats at the appropriate dilution rate (see below) and allow to dwell for at least 10 minutes, but do not let it dry out.
• Rinse off with potable water or use in a no-rinse situation (see below).

Dilution rates for Saniquats:

The dilution rates for Saniquats depend on the application and the desired level of sanitisation. The following shows the recommended dilution rates for different applications:

1. Disinfecting food processing, serving, eating, dispensing equipment:
   • 2 ml Saniquats per litre of water
   • Active ingredient concentration = 200 ppm QAC.
2. Disinfecting of hard, non-porous surfaces:
   • 5 ml Saniquats per litre of water.
   • Active ingredient concentration = 500 ppm QAC.
3. No rinse sanitising in the fishing industry:
   • 2 ml Saniquats per litre of water
   • Active ingredient concentration = 200 ppm QAC.

QAC stands for Quaternary Ammonium Chloride, which is the active ingredient in Saniquats. 

Main Ingredient Concentrations

• Quaternary Ammonium Chloride     <10%
• Surfactant     <10%

Saniquats is MPI Approved (MPI-C43)

1. This may be used as a no-rinse sanitiser on clean hard surfaces in licensed premises which are restricted only to the processing of fish.
2. Before use, all edible product and packaging material must be removed from the room or carefully protected.
3. After use, a rinse with potable water is not required but food contact surfaces must be thoroughly drained to minimise residues.
4. When used as a sanitiser in other licensed premises, surfaces must be thoroughly rinsed with potable water before production starts.
5. This product must always be used at the dilutions recommended by the manufacturer.

1. What QACs Are

QACs are a class of chemicals that act as cationic surfactants. In simple terms, this means they are positively charged (cationic) and act as “surface-active agents” (surfactants) that can penetrate surfaces and interfere with microbes.

2. How QACs Kill Microbes

QACs work by a unique mechanism that targets the structure of microorganisms:

Positive Meets Negative: Micro-organisms like bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses typically have a negatively charged outer surface (cell membrane). The positively charged QAC molecule is strongly attracted to this negative surface.

Membrane Disruption: Once the QAC binds to the microbe’s outer membrane, it disrupts and breaks down the protective barrier. This causes the essential contents of the cell to leak out, leading to the death or inactivation of the organism.

3. Food-Safe Application

QACs are highly valued in the food and dairy industries, which is why ChemShop’s Saniquats is marketed as a food-safe sanitiser.

MPI Approved: Products like Saniquats are often MPI Approved (a New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries classification), meaning they are deemed safe and effective for use on surfaces that come into contact with food.

Non-Corrosive: Unlike many bleach or chlorine-based sanitisers, QACs are generally non-corrosive to most metals and surfaces, making them ideal for treating expensive food processing equipment and stainless steel.

Residual Activity: QACs can leave a residual layer of sanitising activity on surfaces, providing a longer period of protection than some other sanitiser types.

Important Note on Usage

For QAC sanitisers to work effectively, the surface must be clean first. Detergents containing anionic surfactants (many common soaps and cleaners) will neutralise the positive charge of the QAC, making it ineffective. Therefore, the common procedure is to Clean → Rinse → Sanitise to ensure maximum germ-killing power.