ELECTRO-CHEMICAL ACTIVATION ( ECA ) TECHNOLOGY Neutral Electrolyzed Water (NEW) is super-oxidized water that is non-toxic, pH neutral and has

an extended shelf life. Super-oxidized water is water that has had an electric current passed through it, thereby generating a number of oxidized species. This is an electrochemical (or oxidation-reduction) process. Specifically, it is an electrolysis process. This oxidation-reduction process is also known as Electro-Chemical Activation (ECA Technology). In the early development of Super-Oxidized Water, electrolytic cells were only capable of generating small volumes of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) with a limited shelf life. In recent years, neutral electrolyzed water ('NEW') has been introduced as a high-level non-corrosive disinfectant, able to penetrate cell membranes more easily in comparison with acidic electrolyzed water ('AEW') or Sodium Hypochlorite. Super-Oxidized Waters are generated by electrolysis of a dilute NaCI solution passing through an electrolytic cell. AEW has a strong bactericidal effect on most known pathogenic bacteria due to its low pH (2-4) and high oxidation-reduction potential (ORP > 1000 m V), and because it contains active oxidizers like Hypochlorous Acid, it is effective in killing food-borne pathogens in Vitro conditions and in reducing microbial counts and pathogens in vegetables. NEW is generated in the same way as AEW, but a part of the product formed at the anode is redirected into the cathode chamber, thus increasing the content of CIO- ions. Because of its neutral pH, NEW does not contribute as aggressively as AEW to the corrosion of processing equipment or irritation of hands, and is more stable as chlorine loss is significantly reduced at pH 6-9. Independent research has evaluated that the effect of NEW on total microbial count obtaining reductions is superior to AEW or Sodium Hypochlorite.

ECA Technology (Electrolyses of molten salts) The traditional electrolysis process results in unstable oxidized water and formation of Hypochlorous Acid (HOCL). ECA technology utilizes Electrolytic Cells where the anode chamber is separated by an unidirectional permeable membrane from the cathode chamber. The Electrolytic Cell allows migration of ions through the membranes and separation of such ions and prevention of production of high levels of Hypochlorous Acid. An ECA electrolysis process is one in which positive and negative electrodes are submerged in a solution containing positive and negative ions. Positive ions (cations) are drawn towards the negative electrode, where they receive electrons from the electron-rich cathode and neutral atoms or molecules are formed. At the anode (positive electrode) negative ions (anions) are attracted, which give up their additional electrons to the electron-depleted anode. The extra electrons from the cathode effectively flow through the solvent to the anode and an electric current flow. There are many reactions that can occur when water (H2O) is electrolyzed, for example (E0 is the standard redox potential): O2 + H + e- HO2 E0 = - 0.13 V [1] 2H+ + 2e- H2 E0 = 0.00 V [2] HO2 + H+ + e- H2O2 E0 = +1.50 V [3] O3 + 2H+ + 2e- O2 + H2O E0 = +2.07 V [4] OH- + H+ + e- H2O E0 = +2.85 V [5] H2O + e- H+ OH- E0 = - 2.93 V [6] OH+ e- OH- E0 = +2.02 V [7]

The equations above are not a complete list, but give examples of some of the reactions that can take place. Notably, they show that electrolysis of water produces H+ and OH ions, H and OH radicals, H2, O2, HO2, O3 and the like due to redox reactions. As a direct result of electrolysis, hydrogen and ozone gas are released and a percentage of hydroxides remain in the solution in various forms including, but not limited to, hydrogen peroxide (very minimal produced in NEW). The addition of sodium chloride (table salt) leads to the following additional reactions: On the cathode side: Na+ + e- Na [8] 2Na + 2H2O 2Na+ + 2OH- + H2 [9] and at the anode side 2Cl- - 2e- Cl2 [10] It should further be noted that the Cl2 and OH- can react as follows: Cl2 + 2OH- ClO- + Cl- + H2O [11] Cl2 + OH- HClO + Cl- [12] (very minimally produced in NEW) Finally, while electrolyses would typically result in an unstable product (AEW), the patented ECA technology presented here is a process that utilizes and enhances this ECA process by selectively retaining specific species to produce NEW that is highly biocidal, but has a very low chemical load (measured in free available chlorine) compared to Sodium Hypochlorite. Thus, 'NEW' is not harmful for the environment and to human beings.

Chemistry NEW is manufactured through validated processes and devices in accordance with EPA and ISO standards. Not only NEW can be produced in large volumes (making onsite production of NEW commercially attractive. NEW also has an extended shelf life as a result of using a rectified AC-voltage on Electrolytic Cell.

The general product specification of NEW is: * ** *** pH 6.5 8.5* Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) > 800mV Free Available Chlorine (FAC) 50-500 ppm** EC 5-15ppm*** the pH of NEW can be adjusted by the operator from acidic to alkaline. the amount of free available chlorine can be adjusted by the operator. varies with the amount of free available chlorine

Free Available Chlorine (FAC) is essentially all chlorine species that are not combined with ammonia (or other nitrogenous compounds) to form chloramines. The known chemical species present in NEW are: Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) Sodium Hypochlorite (OCl) Sodium Chloride (NaCl)

Therefore, the HOCL concentration claimed in NEW is believed to comprise of a combination of chlorine ions and not necessarily HOCL.Where the concentrations of each chemical are determined by the current density, pH and other important process parameters.

Stability Many Super-Oxidized Waters are only stable for a few hours and are produced with Electrolytic cells that are very limited in production capacity as well as limited in lifetime. Free available chlorine in AEW proved to be unstable and easily evaporates from the water, causing immediately a strong chlorine smell and complicating storage, transport and use of AEW. NEW is stable for at least one month, although it is still highly recommended to use freshly generated NEW.

Several parameters can be measured in order to establish the shelf life of NEW. These include pH, ORP and FAC. Another commonly used methods revolved around NEWs ability to kill spores of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium known to be amongst the most resilient to chlorine. Today, this still proves to be a useful measurement to determine the shelf life of NEW, since it is ultimately this anti-microbial nature that is key to NEWs action as a high-level disinfectant and is believed to be a major part of its success as a disinfectant. Microbial efficacy Various microbial efficacy testing has been conducted by third parties on the microbial efficacy of NEW. Normally microbial efficacy is measured by a suspension test Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus epidermidis Enterococcus hirae Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacillus subtilis

Based on various bactericidal, fungicidal and sporicidal testing performed to date, it can be stated that all the microbial testing requirements for NEW have been met or exceeded. NEW proved to be a high-level disinfectant.

Mechanism of Action The mechanism of action for how NEW eradicates these various micro-organisms is well documented both by third party resources. The mode of action is as follows: The free ions in NEW rapidly react and denature proteins. NEW should not be used on protein based products, since it will react and destroy the proteins.

Once NEW comes into contact with a micro-organism, it attacks the bacterial proteins located in the cell membranes. NEWs superiority is in that NEW will eradicate similarly the antibiotic resistant strains including MRSA and VRE. Secondly, because of the osmolarity difference (the conc. of ion in the solution versus in the cytoplasm), NEW will induce a rupture on the cell membrane leading to cell lysis. Since NEW consists of both chlorine and reactive oxygen species (ROS); it is believed that the bactericidal action exhibited is due to the combination of these species.