Why Is 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) a Better Disinfectant than 99% Isopropanol?

Updated: Aug 18, 2020

Isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol), also known as isopropanol or IPA, is the most common and widely used disinfectant. Different solutions, purity grades, concentrations, and alcohol types yield beneficial cleaning and disinfecting properties when applied correctly. This post will help you identify key uses, best practices, and proper disinfection with isopropyl alcohol.

Why is 70% the most effective concentration of isopropyl alcohol for disinfection?

Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 91% alcohol, is a great antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50%, usefulness for disinfection drops sharply. Notably, higher concentrations of alcohol don’t generate more desirable bactericidal, virucidal, or fungicidal properties.

The presence of water is a crucial factor in destroying or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms with isopropyl alcohol. Water acts as a catalyst and plays a key role in denaturing the proteins of vegetative cell membranes. 70% IPA solutions penetrate the cell wall more completely which permeates the entire cell, coagulates all proteins, and therefore the microorganism dies. Extra water content slows evaporation, therefore increasing surface contact time and enhancing effectiveness. Isopropyl alcohol concentrations over 91% coagulate proteins instantly. Consequently, a protective layer is created which protects other proteins from further coagulation.

Solutions of 91% IPA do kill bacteria, but sometimes require longer contact times for disinfection, and enable spores to lie in a dormant state without being killed. In laboratory analysis conducted by multiple research centers, a 50% isopropyl alcohol solution kills viruses in less than 10 seconds, yet 91% with a contact time of over two hours is ineffective.


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