Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients

Component	Chemical Name	Function	% v/v
Ethanol 96 % v/v	Ethyl alcohol	Active antiseptic	83.33
Hydrogen peroxide 3 % solution	Hydrogen peroxide	Spore elimination	4.17
Glycerol 98 %	Glycerol	Humectant, skin protector	1.45
Deionized / boiled cooled water	Aqua	Diluent	11.05
Total			100.00

Addition Order & Process

Procedure: Pour ethanol 96 % into a calibrated vessel up to the 833.3 mL mark (for a 1-litre batch). Add hydrogen peroxide 3 % (41.7 mL). Add glycerol 98 % (14.5 mL); rinse the cylinder with a small volume of sterile distilled water to recover residual glycerol. Top up to 1000 mL with deionized or boiled-and-cooled water. Cap immediately. Mix gently with a non-sparking paddle. Divide into dispensing bottles and quarantine for 72 hours for hydrogen peroxide sporicidal action .

Formulation Notes

The WHO-recommended handrub formulations were developed for local production, with a maximum batch size of 50 litres for safety . Formulation I employs ethanol 80 % v/v; Formulation II employs isopropyl alcohol (IPA) 75 % v/v. Both contain glycerol 1.45 % v/v as a humectant and hydrogen peroxide 0.125 % v/v to eliminate contaminating spores in raw materials—not as a hand antiseptic active .

Formulation Card FC-11.3-M: WHO Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer (Formulation I — Ethanol)

Final composition: Ethanol 80 % v/v, glycerol 1.45 % v/v, hydrogen peroxide 0.125 % v/v, water 18.43 % v/v .

For Formulation II (Isopropanol), substitute 751.5 mL isopropyl alcohol 99.8 % for the ethanol; dilute to 1000 mL with water to yield IPA 75 % v/v . Quality control should verify alcohol concentration by alcoholmeter (± 5 % of target) and hydrogen peroxide by iodometric titration . Ethanol 80 % v/v delivers a 5 log reduction in transient skin flora within 30 seconds under EN 1500 . Glycerol at 1.45 % provides skin protection with minimal impact on antimicrobial efficacy .