The Science of HOCl

Meet the molecule your immune system already uses

Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) is produced naturally by your white blood cells to destroy pathogens. OxiTab puts that same molecule in a tablet — no harsh chemicals, no hazardous fumes.

Choose your level

The Basics

Here's how to think about HOCl

No chemistry degree required. HOCl is powerful, it's natural, and it's exactly what your body already relies on to fight infection.

White Blood Cell (Neutrophil)
naturally produces
HOCl — Hypochlorous Acid

The same molecule in every OxiTab tablet

Your body already makes this

When you get an infection, your immune system sends white blood cells called neutrophils to the scene. These cells produce Hypochlorous Acid — HOCl — and use it to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

It's one of the most powerful disinfectants found in nature, and your body has been using it for millions of years.

OxiTab harnesses that same chemistry in a pre-measured tablet. Drop one in water and you have a professional-grade disinfectant solution.

💡 HOCl is 80–100× more effective against pathogens than bleach — at a fraction of the toxicity.

How It Works

Three steps. That's it.

💊
1

Drop a tablet

One OxiTab tablet, measured perfectly for one gallon of water. No guessing, no measuring, no mess.

💧
2

Add water

The tablet dissolves completely, turning ordinary tap water into a powerful HOCl disinfectant solution.

3

Disinfect with confidence

Apply, wipe, done. No rinsing required. Kills 99.99% of pathogens — safer than bleach, more powerful than quats.

What It Kills

One solution. Broad-spectrum protection.

OxiTab is tested and EPA-registered against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even hard-to-kill spores.

🦠
Bacteria
MRSA, Staph, Salmonella, E.coli & more
🫧
Viruses
COVID-19, Flu, Norovirus, Hep A/B/C
🍄
Fungi
Candida auris, Aspergillus, Ringworm
Spores
C. difficile — hardest pathogen to kill
🐾
Animal Pathogens
Parvovirus, Avian Flu, Calicivirus
🏥
Drug-Resistant
VRE, MRSA, Carbapenem-resistant strains
Biochemistry

How HOCl destroys pathogens

HOCl is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disrupts pathogen function through irreversible oxidative damage — making it impossible for microorganisms to develop resistance.

1

Cell Wall Penetration

HOCl's neutral charge allows it to penetrate microbial cell walls — unlike charged chlorine species which are repelled by the negative charge of bacterial membranes.

2

Protein Oxidation

Inside the cell, HOCl rapidly oxidizes and chlorinates critical proteins, disrupting enzyme function and cell membrane integrity.

3

DNA Disruption

HOCl chlorinates nucleic acid components, halting DNA transcription and replication. The cell cannot reproduce or repair itself.

4

Irreversible Lysis

With structural proteins destroyed, the cell membrane ruptures completely — cell death is rapid, typically within 30 seconds to 4 minutes.

The pH–HOCl Relationship

In chlorine chemistry, pH determines the ratio of active HOCl vs. hypochlorite ion (OCl⁻). HOCl is the dominant germicidal species — OCl⁻ is up to 80× less effective.

OxiTab 6.5–7.0
pH 0
Acidic
pH 4 pH 7
Neutral
pH 10 pH 14
Alkaline

At pH 6.0–7.0, approximately 75–99% of available chlorine exists as HOCl (active form). Bleach solutions typically operate at pH 10–12, where the majority of chlorine is the far less effective OCl⁻ ion — explaining why OxiTab/NaDCC is dramatically more effective at equivalent concentrations.

Chemistry 01

NaDCC → HOCl Formation

OxiTab's active ingredient is Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC). When dissolved in water, NaDCC hydrolyzes to release cyanuric acid and two equivalents of HOCl:

NaDCC + H₂O → HOCl + cyanuric acid

The slow, controlled release of HOCl from NaDCC provides extended efficacy vs. sodium hypochlorite, which degrades rapidly.

Chemistry 02

Stability Advantage

HOCl from NaDCC is significantly more stable than that derived from bleach (NaOCl), particularly in the presence of organic matter — which describes every real-world disinfection scenario.

Studies document that NaDCC solutions maintain effective HOCl concentrations 4–6× longer than equivalent bleach solutions.

Chemistry 03

Metal Compatibility

Bleach (NaOCl) at equivalent bactericidal concentrations causes significantly greater metal corrosion than NaDCC. This is attributed to bleach's high alkaline pH, which accelerates oxidative corrosion of stainless steel and aluminum surfaces.

OxiTab's near-neutral pH protects metal instruments — critical for professional environments.

Chemistry 04

Biofilm Penetration

HOCl demonstrates superior biofilm penetration versus quaternary ammonium compounds (quats). Quats are positively charged — they bind to the negatively charged outer biofilm matrix but cannot penetrate to the interior microbial community.

HOCl's neutral charge disrupts biofilm at every layer, including the EPS matrix.

Concentration & Application Reference

OxiTab produces specific HOCl concentrations depending on dilution, each with corresponding contact times and EPA-label pathogen claims.

Application Level Dilution Available Chlorine (ppm) Contact Time Key Claims
Sanitizing1 tab / 10 gal~100 ppm60 secondsFood contact surfaces
Disinfection1 tab / 1 gal~1,076 ppm2–4 minutesBacteria, enveloped viruses, fungi
High-Level2 tabs / 1 gal~2,153 ppm4 minutesNon-enveloped viruses, TB, C. diff
Sporicidal4 tabs / 1 gal~4,306 ppm4 minutesC. difficile spores (K-List)
Research Basis

Peer-reviewed evidence

OxiTab's efficacy is supported by published scientific literature on NaDCC and HOCl chemistry.

Biofilm Research

Continuous biofilm suppression

Research on continuously-active chlorine disinfectants demonstrates sustained reduction in surface bacterial concentrations and inhibition of biofilm regrowth — a key advantage over single-application quats.

Surface Disinfection

Hospital room comparison study

Comparative testing of NaDCC against accelerated hydrogen peroxide and quaternary ammonium products demonstrated lower post-disinfection microbial counts with NaDCC on high-touch healthcare surfaces.

Avian Influenza

H5N1 chlorine inactivation

Peer-reviewed research confirms effective inactivation of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus using chlorine-based disinfectants at concentrations comparable to OxiTab's standard dilution.

Water Systems

NaDCC in agricultural water lines

Studies in broiler production environments demonstrate NaDCC's effectiveness at reducing E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus in waterline biofilm — including complete elimination of Salmonella.

Regulatory Status

EPA-Registered. Multi-List Certified.

OxiTab appears on five EPA disinfectant lists — a rare multi-claim distinction few products achieve.

N-List

SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19

K-List

C. difficile

Hardest-to-kill spore-former

Q-List

Emerging Pathogens

Non-enveloped viruses

M-List

Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

L-List

Ebola Virus

Highest-risk bloodborne virus

Safety Profile

Why professionals are switching

Traditional disinfectants carry significant risks — to your staff, your clients, and your equipment. HOCl changes that equation.

⚠️ Bleach & Quats (Traditional)

  • Corrosive fumes irritate airways and skin
  • Damages metals, scissors, clippers
  • Hazardous waste / disposal requirements
  • Requires ventilation and PPE
  • Quats leave toxic residue on surfaces
  • Inconsistent dilution = inconsistent efficacy
  • Bulky liquids, heavy shipping costs

✅ OxiTab (HOCl)

  • Non-hazardous — no special disposal needed
  • Excellent compatibility with metals & surfaces
  • No rinsing required — safe residue profile
  • No harsh fumes — safe in any environment
  • Pre-measured tablets = perfect concentration every time
  • Breaks down into salt and water
  • Lightweight tablets — easy shipping and storage
Ready to Switch?

See OxiTab in action for your industry

From Salons to Veterinary Clinics, OxiTab is already Protecting Professionals who can't afford disinfection that are hazardous and not up to industry standards.