IPA (Isopropyl alcohol), or propan-2-ol(C3H8O)(C₃H₈O)(C3H8O), is a colourless, flammable liquid widely used as a solvent, disinfectant, and cleaner. Known for its rapid evaporation and ability to dissolve oils and greases, IPA is commonly employed in electronics cleaning, hand sanitisers, and industrial and household disinfection. Why 70% IPA is used in Pharma as Disinfectant? Isopropyl Alcohol […]
IPA (Isopropyl alcohol), or propan-2-ol(C3H8O), is a colourless, flammable liquid widely used as a solvent, disinfectant, and cleaner. Known for its rapid evaporation and ability to dissolve oils and greases, IPA is commonly employed in electronics cleaning, hand sanitisers, and industrial and household disinfection.
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), also known as isopropanol or 2-propanol, is a widely used disinfectant and cleaning agent in pharmaceutical and healthcare environments. It is a colourless, volatile liquid with excellent solvent and antimicrobial properties. In the pharmaceutical industry, IPA is primarily employed for surface disinfection, equipment cleaning, and hand sanitisation — most effectively at 70% v/v concentration in water.
1. Bacteria:
IPA denatures bacterial cell wall proteins and disrupts membrane integrity. The presence of water facilitates protein coagulation and enhances penetration into the cell, leading to cell lysis and death.
2. Fungi:
Similar to bacteria, IPA denatures fungal enzymes and structural proteins, impairing cell metabolism and damaging the cell membrane, resulting in leakage of cellular contents.
3. Viruses:
IPA is effective against lipid-enveloped viruses (e.g., influenza, SARS-CoV-2, herpes). It disrupts the viral lipid envelope, inactivating the virus. However, non-enveloped viruses are more resistant to alcohols.
Looking to grow your pharma career?
Pick up your course and learn from industry professionals with PharmaGuru’s recognised training programs:
Online Pharma Course (Training)
| Parameter | 70% IPA | 90% IPA | 100% IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Content | 30% | 10% | 0% |
| Effectiveness | Most effective – water enhances cell wall penetration and protein denaturation | Less effective – rapid evaporation reduces contact time | Least effective – lacks water for protein denaturation |
| Evaporation Rate | Moderate – allows sufficient contact time for disinfection | Fast – short contact time | Very fast – minimal disinfection |
| Microbial Efficacy (Bacteria/Fungi/Viruses) | Excellent | Moderate | Poor to moderate |
| Residue/Volatility | Minimal residue, manageable volatility | High volatility | Very high volatility |
| Common GMP Use | Widely used for surface, glove, and equipment disinfection | Occasionally used for rapid drying needs | Rarely used in GMP environments |
The 70% IPA solution strikes a balance between optimal disinfection efficacy and practical usability. The presence of water enhances its antimicrobial activity by slowing evaporation and facilitating protein denaturation, a key factor in effective microbial kill. Regulatory bodies worldwide endorse 70% IPA as the standard concentration for cleaning and disinfection under GMP compliance.
Here are detailed answers to your questions about Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) — covering what it is, how it’s made, uses, concentrations, pricing in India, and safety/efficacy considerations.
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), also known as 2-propanol or propan-2-ol (chemical formula C₃H₈O) is a secondary alcohol (the hydroxyl group is attached to the second carbon) used as a solvent, disinfectant and cleaner.
Manufacture: One common method is the direct hydration of propylene (an alkene) in the presence of a catalyst to form isopropanol. The resulting IPA is then purified to the required grades (industrial, pharmaceutical/USP, GMP) depending on application.
There are several reasons:
The key scientific reasons:
High-purity IPA (~99% or greater) is typically used where minimal water content is required (for solvent/cleaning applications rather than disinfection). For example: electronics cleaning, removing residues, drying surfaces, as a solvent for sensitive manufacturing processes. It is less effective for standard disinfection unless the contact time and conditions are optimised, because the rapid evaporation and low water content reduce antimicrobial kill efficiency.
Yes, in many applications, IPA is a safe and effective cleaning and disinfecting solution when used correctly — with the correct concentration, contact time, ventilation, compatible materials, and adherence to safety precautions. However, some caveats:
It’s not “weird”, but it is not always appropriate for all types of cleaning. Consider:
In theory, this is a subtle difference: 75% has slightly more alcohol content than 65-70% so it might shorten the required contact time or enhance the microbial kill margin. The water content remains adequate to promote penetration and denaturation, but the higher alcohol fraction may enhance the effect against some organisms. Many guidelines reference ~60-90% as the effective range. The exact optimal % may vary with organism type, contact time, surface, and organic load. Some organisations may choose 75% for a “safer margin” compared to 65-70%. The key principle remains: too high (>90%) reduces efficacy; too low (<50%) loses efficacy rapidly.
You May Like
| Concentration | Water Content | Effectiveness (Disinfection) | Evaporation / Contact Time | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% IPA | ~0% water | Lower disinfection efficacy (due to rapid evaporation & protein shell formation) | Very fast evaporation, short contact time | Solvent/cleaning applications where drying is critical (electronics) |
| ~90% IPA | ~10% water | Better than 100% for some uses, but still less ideal for broad disinfection compared to ~70% because still fast evaporation & less water for protein denaturation | Quite fast evaporation | Some solvent/cleaning uses, electronics, medical device cleaning |
| ~70% IPA | ~30% water | Optimal for disinfection: good penetration, denaturation, longer contact time, water-catalyzed action | Moderate evaporation, better contact time | Surface disinfection in pharma/cleanrooms, equipment sanitisation, healthcare |
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), or propan-2-ol(C3H8O), is a colourless, flammable liquid widely used as a solvent, disinfectant, and cleaner. Known for its rapid evaporation and ability to dissolve oils and greases, IPA is commonly employed in electronics cleaning, hand sanitisers, and industrial and household disinfection.
91% IPA (i.e., ~9% water) is often used in applications where faster drying is required, but some water is still beneficial. For example: electronics cleaning, medical device cleaning, where rapid drying is important, but some moisture is acceptable. Some users report that 91% IPA is common in electronics repair because the extra water is minimal but still present for solvency/penetration. However, for disinfection on surfaces, a lower concentration, like 70% is often preferred for microbial kill.
Yes. IPA is simply a common abbreviation for isopropyl alcohol. They refer to the same chemical compound (C₃H₈O, propan-2-ol).
IPA has a wide range of uses, including:
As a disinfectant/antiseptic in healthcare, laboratories, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and general cleaning.
As a solvent: for oils, greases, residues, in electronics cleaning (because it evaporates quickly and leaves minimal residue).
Hand sanitisers, rubbing alcohol, surface sanitisation, and equipment cleaning.
In industrial processes: coatings, inks, speciality chemicals, and as feedstock or solvent in manufacturing.
Further Reading:
Quick Links