Electrolyzed Water Kills COVID-19 and Other Germs in Minutes
- Authors
- F Xavier López-Labrador, Adolfo Blasco, Luis M Villamayor, Gregoire Gaume, José V Ros-Lis
- Journal
- Food and Environmental Virology
- Year
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12560-025-09663-1
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Spain
- Health Condition
- COVID-19
- Body System
- Respiratory
TL;DR
Scientists found that a special type of water called electrolyzed water can kill the COVID-19 virus super fast—in just 2-5 minutes—and it works on bacteria and fungi too, making it a cheap and eco-friendly way to disinfect surfaces and stop germs from spreading.
Key Finding
Electrolyzed water reduced SARS-CoV-2 by more than 99.99% in solution within 2 minutes and on surfaces within 5 minutes under optimized conditions.
Summary
This study tested electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to create a disinfectant) as a surface and solution disinfectant against viruses, bacteria, and fungi, including SARS-CoV-2. The researchers found that electrolyzed water with specific chemical properties could reduce SARS-CoV-2 levels by more than 99.99% in just 2-5 minutes, and was also effective against other microorganisms, though the disinfecting power depended on factors like chlorine concentration, acidity level, and contact time.
Practical Takeaway
This study examined electrolyzed water as a disinfectant for surfaces and solutions, not as a consumable product for health purposes. The research is laboratory-based and does not address hydrogen water as a beverage or supplement. Any potential application would be limited to surface disinfection in healthcare or public settings.
Abstract (excerpt)
The global emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted the urgent need for effective disinfection strategies to mitigate virus transmission. Electrolyzed water (EW), an eco-friendly and cost-effective biocidal agent, has garnered attention for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This study…