Fungicides, Biopesticides, Cosmetics & Persnoal Cares, HI&I Cleaning Care
How does pine oil work in disinfectant cleaners?
- What is the source and compositions of pine oil?
Generally, there are mainly three types of pine oil on the market.
| Type | Raw material | Process | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Natural | Essential oils | Extraction | Stable and cheaper price, limited output | Lower active components content, mixed odor |
| Synthetic1 | Gum turpentine | Hydration of pinenes | Typical pine odor, Large output | volatile price, |
| Synthetic2 | Sulfate turpentine | Hydration of pinenes | Large output, modest price | Mixed with slight sulfur odor, containing sulfur, volatile price |
The compositions of these pine oil are similar, mainly alpha-terpineol, plus beta-terpineol, gamma-terpineol, borneol, isoborneol and other terpene alcohols, 1,8- cineole and etc. There are also many monoterpenes such as dipentene, terpinolene, alpha- terpinene and etc in pine oil with low terpene alcohol content. Commercial grades generally are divided by terpene alcohol content, from 50% to 85%. Higher terpene alcohol usually means more pleasant, pure, typical lilac odor. Pine oil with high terpene alcohol content is also called terpineol.
Here is an example of the main compositions of synthetic pine oil:
| Chemical Name | Assay, % | Chemical Name | Assay, % |
| α- terpineol&γ-terpineol
terpinene-1-ol cis-Β-terpineol isoborneol borneol terpinene-4-ol Fenchol trans-Β-terpineol traces of other terpene alcohols |
67.0
3.9 2.8 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.3 2.5 |
Terpinolene
Dipentene 2,4(8)-P-menthadiene α- terpinene 1，8- Cineole Camphor 1，4- Cineole p-cymene |
6.7
2.1 1.7 1.1 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.3 |
- What is the function of pine oil?
Many kinds of research show that the cleaners with pine oil as the main constituent have a strong disinfectant effect on salmonella, staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and etc, could be used in household disinfection, deodorization and cleaners. Pine oil can also be compounded with other disinfectants to wide bactericidal spectrum and increase disinfectant ability, as well as bring pleasant lilac odor to cover the pungent smell of other disinfectants.
- How to use pine oil in disinfectant cleaners?
The concentration of pine oil applied in cleaners varies from 0.3% to 60%. The ideal concentration is around 30%. Lower than 30%, the disinfectant effect will be relatively weak. Higher than 30%, the cost will be high and it will be difficult to use due to high viscosity for some spray cleaners.
Here are some reference formulas:
- Household cleaner
| Formula 1 | Formula 2 | Formula 3 | |
| 85% pine oil
STPP Surfactant Mineral oil IPA OPP water |
26.5
– 10 – 12 – 48 |
17.6
– 10 – 11.8 0.2 58 |
13.2
2 17.75 19 – – 46.25 |
- Floor cleaners
| Formula 4 | Formula 5 | Formula 6 | |
| 85% pine oil
STPP TOFA NaOH TEA Mineral oil Triton X-100 water |
44.1
– 12 – 10 – – 28 |
17.6
5 17 2.4 – – 2 53.6 |
13.2
2.2 12.5 1.75 – 19 3 46.55 |
- Liquid hand soap
| Formula 7 | |
| 85% pine oil
Theobroma oil KOH water |
3.5
16 4.6 75.4 |
- Metal cleaner (for dust dirt)
| Formula 8 | Formula 9 | |
| 85% pine oil
Distilled tall oil NaOH TEA EB Water |
32.2
26.0 3.1 – – 34.4 |
54.9
11 – 6.8 20 – |
- Two-phases metal detergent (for both oil-soluble and water-soluble stains)
| Formula 10 | |
| 85% pine oil
Distilled tall oil NaOH TEA EB Water |
19.9
26.0 3.1 – – 34.4 |
- Automotive engine cleaners
| Formula 11 | |
| 85% pine oil
Distilled tall oil NaOH MEA Mineral oil Water |
17.6
17.2 1.8 2.0 26.8 32 |
- Rust remover
| Formula 12 | |
| 85% pine oil
Triton X-100 EB H₃PO₄ (85%) Water |
8.8
8 17 30 35 |
- Metal polisher
| Formula 13 | Formula 14 | |
| 85% pine oil
Stone powder TOFA NaOH Water TCE |
22
20 7 1 47 – |
3
– – – – 98-95 |