Are you unsure of the quality of the hand sanitizer? Don’t worry, we have curated some of the most effective methods to help you check the same.
In the fight against COVID-19, it is imperative to maintain proper hand and respiratory hygiene. Hand sanitizers and masks play a vital role in achieving this. However,in order to capitalise on the increasing demand of sanitizers,fake products have flooded the market; risking thousands of lives. But there is always a way to check the quality of sanitizers which are cost effective in nature.
Here are few supplies which you will require to perform the methods and check the quality of sanitizers :-
Tissue paper roll (toilet paper)
Ballpoint pen Note- The pen should not be water washable.
CoinNote- Instead of a coin, you can also use a cap of your sanitizer bottle as the purpose is to draw a small circle.
Half cup of wheat flour
Few plates and bowls
A hair-dryer
The Tissue Paper or Toilet Paper Test
In order to test the quality of sanitizer, the first method is The Tissue Paper or Toilet Paper Test which is based upon the principle of paper chromatography.
Method:-
Keep a piece of tissue paper on a flat surface. Note- Do not make a thick wad of the tissue paper otherwise sanitiser will not diffuse to the sideways instead will go down into the tissue paper.
Using a ballpoint pen, carefully draw a circle on the paper. You can draw the circle by a coin or a cap. Note- Ensure that the line is continuous, thick and clear
Pour a few drops of the hand sanitiser liquid or gel in the middle of the circle.
Note- Pour in the quantity that it shouldnt overrun the line or diffuse past the line.
Allow the hand sanitiser to slowly diffuse and move out of the circle. The liquid sanitiser will diffuse almost instantly whilst the gel-based will take some time.
The same should be repeated with a little bit of water to check how a fake sanitiser without alcohol behaves.
Observation
If the amount of alcohol will be sufficient in the sanitiser, you will notice that the line you had drawn with the will dissolve in the sanitiser and the colour starts to spread out. However, in case of the opposite scenario, the line will not be dissolved and the sanitiser will just defuse past the line without any change.
How does it function?
The ink which is used in water-resistant ballpoint pens does not dissolve in water but very quickly dissolves in alcohol which causes the ink to move along the front of the diffusing sanitiser and spreading out. If there is less alcohol content, the solubility of the ink is not sufficient and the line doesnt move.
The Wheat Flour Dough Test
The Wheat Flour Dough Test is based on the fact that for flour to swell and become sticky to turn to dough, it needs water, whilst alcohol, on the other hand, competes with the gluten and carbohydrates for the water molecules. Alcohol doesnt let them hydrate and become sticky.
Method
Take a plate with one tablespoon of wheat flour. Note- It is not mandatory to use wheat flour. You can also use maize flour or any other flour which quickly forms a dough with water.
To this, add one tablespoon of the sanitiser; the quantity of which should not be too much.
Now, knead them together to make a dough.
Observation
An excess amount of water in the sanitiser will quickly turn it to become sticky and eventually turn into a dough. On the other hand, the right amount of alcohol will not become sticky and remain as a powder; eventually the sanitiser will dry up.
The Hair Dryer Test
Another effective method to check the quality of Hand sanitiser is The Hair Dryer Test which is based on the principle that alcohol has a much lower boiling (78 C) point compared to water (100 C).
Method
Take a bowl with one tablespoon of the sanitiser.
Take another bowl and put some water in it.
Now, take a hair dryer and for 30 seconds, dry the sanitiser.
Now, dry the water at the same temperature.
Observation
In case the required amount of alcohol is present in the sanitiser, it will dry up significantly compared to the water.
These simple tests will help you ascertain the quality of the hand sanitizer that your are using.
