Quaternary ammonium compounds benzethonium chloride

Disinfectants. Several disinfecting agents can be used in hatcheries and two are of particular interest. Because they are not considered dmg or food additive uses by FDA, povidone—iodine compounds can be used to disinfect the surface of eggs (9). Benzalkonium chloride [68424-85-1] and benzethonium chloride (quaternary ammonium compounds), are allowed at 2 mg/L by FDA to disinfect water containing fish. These compounds are also known to have therapeutic properties, especially against external bacteria (9). 

Quaternary ammonium compounds are surface-active agents. Some of them precipitate or denature proteins and destroy microorganisms. The most important disinfectants in this group are cationic surface-active agents, such as benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride and methylbenzethonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride the problems that they cause are similar. 

Benzethonium chloride is a quaternary ammonium compound used in pharmaceutical formulations as an antimicrobial preservative. Typically, it is used for this purpose in injections, ophthalmic and otic preparations at concentrations 0.01-0.02% w/v. Benzethonium chloride may also be used as a wetting and solubilizing agent, and as a topical disinfectant. 

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