Any substance or mixture of substances that acts
against microbes is an antimicrobial agent. There are many types and names
for these products that control microorganisms, such as
In an antimicrobial product, the chemicals that
are effective against microorganisms are called active ingredients. Most
products contain other chemicals, called inert ingredients, in addition
to the actives. These are added to make the products safer and easier to
handle, measure and apply, or to make them effective for other uses such
as cleaning. Examples of antimicrobial active ingredients are:| Halogen Compounds Sodium Hypochlorite Chloroisocyanurates Iodine compounds Bromine compounds |
Inorganic Compounds
of Arsenic Copper Mercury Tin Zinc |
Metal salts Barium metaborate Copper arsenate Cuprous oxide Selenium sulfide Sodium nitrate Sodium nitrite |
Phenolics Chlorinated phenolics Bisphenols o-phenylphenol Hydroxybenzoic acid esters |
| Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Alkyldimethylbenzyl compounds Dialkyldimethylammonium compounds |
Organosulfur Compounds DMTT MBT Carbamates Triazines |
Nitrogen Compounds Fatty amines Nitroparaffin derivatives |
Other Alcohol Aldehydes Hydrogen peroxide Organic acids Pine Oils |
These biocides are sold under a variety of trade names that describe a product's intended biocidal action.
