Glutaraldehyde CAS 111-30-8 has a wide variety of uses throughout the world with its use spread over a number of different industries. It is used primarily as a biocide but it also has wide use as a fixative, and some use as a therapeutic agent. Glutaraldehyde is similarly used in a number of different industries. 

The main uses of glutaraldehyde are:

1. As a cold disinfectant in the health care industry;

2. As a hardener in x-ray film processing;

3. In tanning as a fixative;

4. As a biocide in water treatment;

5. In animal housing for disinfection;

6. As a preservative in industrial oils;

7. As a biocide in sanitary solutions for aircraft and portable toilets;

8. In small quantities as a disinfectant for air ducts;

9. As a tissue fixative in electron and light microscopy and in histochemistry;

10. As a biocide in aquaculture;

11. In small quantities as an embalming agent; 

12. As a therapeutic agent.

         

1.  Cold disinfectant

Aqueous glutaraldehyde solutions are used throughout the health care industry to disinfect instruments such as endoscopes, surgical instruments and dental equipment. For proper effect, the solutions are made alkaline, for example, with sodium bicarbonate at approximately 0.3% w/v. Normally the 1% or 2% solutions are used,although in recent years the trend throughout the industry has been towards the 1% solution, due to the increased occupational hazard associated with higher concentrations of glutaraldehyde.

Disinfection is usually carried out by soaking the instruments in glutaraldehyde solution for a fixed period, and then rinsing the equipment with clean water. The advantages of buffered glutaraldehyde as a disinfectant are:

1. Its broad spectrum of activity;

2. Its rapid microbiocidal action; and

3. Its non-corrosivity (at lower concentrations) to most materials, including metals, rubbers and lenses.

The main disadvantages are its adverse health effects and its irritating odour.

  

2. Water treatment

Aqueous glutaraldehyde solutions at 45-50% w/w are used as microbiocides for the treatment of water in evaporative recirculating cooling towers such as those in industry, shopping malls and large air-conditioned commercial buildings. The glutaraldehyde solutions are also used in air washers and brewery pasteurisers. In some cases, glutaraldehyde is fed to the water treatment system in a more dilute form, for example, at less than 10%.

Glutaraldehyde helps to control the slime and algae deposits which tend to cause fouling of cooling equipment, adverse health effects, metal corrosion and poor heat transfer. Microbiocides are usually administered in slugs as shock kill doses for maximum effect.

This can be done manually or by the use of automatic dosing equipment. The final concentration of glutaraldehyde in cooling tower water after dosing is approximately 50 to 100 ppm w/v.

  

3. Preservative/Biocide

Glutaraldehyde is used as a preservative or general biocide in a number of applications. In Australia it is used as a 5% w/v aqueous solution as a biocidal additive in conveyor chain lubricants. The solution is fed continuously from a 25 L container to the lubricant via an automatic feed system.

Glutaraldehyde is also used as a 2% w/v disinfectant in sanitary solutions used in aircraft and portable toiletsystems.

It is also used as a disinfectant for air ducts. A 2% w/v solution can be sprayed or fogged directly into the air ducts; if the level of contamination in the duct is low, the solution can be diluted to approximately 0.2%. After application, the ventilating system is run at maximum flow rates to disperse the solution. The solution may also be mixed with a sealing solution before spraying or fogging, but this procedure is not recommended in heavily contaminated ductwork.

  

4. Animal housing

Aqueous glutaraldehyde solutions are used to disinfect animal and bird houses such as pig and poultry sheds, aviaries, hatcheries, kennels, catteries, stables and veterinary hospitals.

Dilute solutions at approximately 0.1 to 0.3% w/v glutaraldehyde are sprayed, washed or foamed onto the walls, floors and other surfaces to clean and disinfect. In the fogging of sheds, usually with automatic or semi-automatic equipment, a more dilute solution of approximately 400 ppm is used.

Glutaraldehyde solutions at approximately 750 ppm are also used to sanitise egg shells to assist in the removal of dirt and debris. Sanitising is followed by rinsing with clean water.

  

5. Tanning

Aqueous solutions of glutaraldehyde are used to soften leathers and to improve their resistance to water, alkalis and mould. Depending on the type of leather or pelt to be treated, an amount of 25% or 50% w/w glutaraldehyde solution is added to a mixing vessel to soak the leathers, giving a final concentration of approximately 0.5 to 2% in the mixing vessel.

  

6. Aquaculture

Glutaraldehyde is used, generally in conjunction with wetting agents, to control viruses and other micro-organisms in the aquaculture industry in some States.11 Farming of finfish rather than crustacea consumes most of the chemicals used in aquaculture.

 

  

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