The science behind Selectrocide

How Selectrocide® Works

Ultra-Pure chlorine dioxide, generated on site in a patented sealed micro-reactor. No premixing, no harmful byproducts, and gentle on materials and skin at use concentrations.

99.9%
Pure ClO₂ generated at point of use
5 ppm
5-log pathogen reduction in 60 seconds
Zero
Byproducts in your finished solution

Registered, compliant, and manufactured in the USA

Selectrocide® from Selective Micro Technologies

EPARegistered
FDAFood contact notifications
NSF/ANSI 60Treatment chemicals
OMRI ListedOrganic use
ISO 9001Compliant
PatentedUS 12,036,525

25+ years

Manufacturing ultra-pure chlorine dioxide for industries that cannot afford a failure.

Made in the USA

Produced at our own facility, not sourced and relabeled.

Generated on site

Patented micro-reactor technology, activated with water where it is used.

The chemistry

What is Chlorine Dioxide?

Chlorine dioxide is a dissolved gas, not a chlorine compound. Despite the similar name, the two chemicals work completely differently.

ClO₂ works by oxidation. It strips electrons from the cell walls of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and biofilm. That mode of action is why microbes cannot build resistance to it, and why it stays effective at concentrations far below bleach, quats, or peracetic acid.

Oxidation, not chlorination

Strips electrons from microbial cell walls. It takes pathogens apart at the molecular level instead of reacting with them chemically.

Resistance is not a concern

No mechanism is known for microbes to adapt to oxidation. Unlike bleach and quats, resistance is not a documented concern.

pH neutral

Effective across the full working pH range. Bleach loses efficacy above pH 7.5. Chlorine dioxide does not.

No residue

Breaks down into chloride and oxygen. Nothing left behind in water, on surfaces, or in product.

Oxidative capacity
5Electrons.
Not 2.

Disinfectants that work by oxidation kill by pulling electrons out of a microbe's cell wall until the wall fails. Every oxidizer molecule can only take so many before it is used up.

Bleach and the other common oxidizers take 2. Chlorine dioxide takes 5, so the same amount of work takes far fewer molecules. That is why the dose is measured in single-digit ppm instead of thousands.

 
01

Oxidation takes the wall apart

The oxidizer pulls electrons out of the microbe's cell wall. The wall loses structure and fails. There is no chemical reaction for a microbe to adapt to, which is why resistance is not a concern.

02

Every oxidizer has a limit

Each molecule can only accept so many electrons before it is full. Bleach and the other common oxidizers stop at 2. Chlorine dioxide keeps going to 5.

03

Fewer molecules, same job

Ten electrons of damage takes five chlorine molecules, or two of chlorine dioxide. Two and a half times the work per molecule is what puts the dose at 5 ppm instead of thousands.

Oxidation removes electrons from a microbe's cell wall until the wall fails. Chlorine and bleach accept 2 electrons per molecule. Chlorine dioxide accepts 5, which is 2.5 times the work from the same number of molecules.

The problem

Every Other Disinfectant Has a Tradeoff

Most operations have already tried bleach, peracetic acid, quats, or iodophors. Each one asks you to give something up: performance, material compatibility, worker safety, or practicality.

Selectrocide® No tradeoff

Pure, portable, point-of-use ClO₂. No byproducts, no corrosion, no residue, no resistance. That is the gap Selectrocide fills.

Bleach (NaOCl) Tradeoff

Corrosive, forms chlorinated byproducts such as trihalomethanes, and loses efficacy above pH 7.5.

Peracetic acid Tradeoff

Aggressive on materials, strong odor, and requires careful handling and PPE throughout use.

Quats Tradeoff

Leave residue on surfaces and lose effectiveness against biofilm. Resistance is a growing concern.

Iodophors Tradeoff

Stain surfaces and equipment, and need high concentrations for meaningful pathogen reduction.

Stabilized ClO₂ Tradeoff

Generates as little as 3.2 ppm of actual chlorine dioxide in an acidic, byproduct-heavy solution. Not Ultra-Pure.

Compare the numbers side by side 8 products · 7 measures
MeasureSelectrocide®BleachStabilized ClO₂IodophorPeroxideAcidified quatPAAPhenolic
5-log reduction (Staph aureus, 60 sec)5 ppm1,000 ppm1,200 ppm440 ppm68,000 ppm1,200 ppm400 ppm380 ppm
Neutral pHYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
No harmful byproductsYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
No residueYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Material compatibleYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Biofilm penetrationYesPoorPoorPoorModeratePoorModeratePoor
ClO₂ purity99.9%N/A7–30%N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Comparison figures are SMT internal test data.
The micro-reactor

How the Micro-Reactor Works

Selectrocide uses a patented sealed membrane micro-reactor pouch. The reaction happens inside the pouch, not in your water. That is why it is so pure.

 
01

Remove the micro-reactor from the pouch

Tear open the foil packaging and take out the sealed micro-reactor.

02

Drop it in a container of water

No mixing, no measuring, no protective equipment required.

03

Seal the container and wait two hours

Chlorine dioxide gas diffuses out through the membrane and into the water. Reactants and byproducts stay locked inside.

04

Remove the reactor and discard

Take out the spent micro-reactor and reseal the container to hold concentration.

05

Apply or dilute as needed

The solution is ready to use, or dilute it to the target concentration for your application.

In stabilized systems the reaction happens in open water, so chlorites, chlorates, and acids end up in your finished solution. In Selectrocide the reaction is sealed inside the micro-reactor. Byproducts never reach the water.

Use rates

From Generation to Use

ApplicationConcentration
Disinfectant, hard surfaces100 ppm
Sanitizer, food contact surfaces20 ppm
Direct food contact5 ppm
Potable water treatment< 1 ppm

Once generated, dilute to the target concentration for your application. Every pouch ships dry and stores for up to two years before activation.

Ships dry

No refrigeration and no special storage. A dry pouch instead of drums of pre-mixed liquid.

2-year shelf life

Up to two years before activation, so your supply is not on a clock.

1G, 5G, 12G

Covers small surface sanitation up to thousands of gallons of treated water.

Reusable containers

Generation containers are reused, which cuts plastic waste and shipping weight.

Material compatibility

Compatible Across Common Materials

Selectrocide has been evaluated across metals, plastics, elastomers, and tubing. No structural degradation was observed in any category.

Full compatibility

No issues observed at use concentrations.

Stainless steelChrome-plated steelPTFEPVCPolycarbonateABSHDPELDPEPolypropyleneEPDMVitonSantoprenePolyethylenePolyurethaneSilicone

Minor cosmetic effects

Minor cosmetic effects noted at use concentrations. No structural degradation observed.

CopperBrass
Get started

Ready to See It in Your Operation?

We will help you build a protocol for your application, whether that is water treatment, surface sanitation, food processing, or facility disinfection.

FAQ

Questions We Get Most

Generating and using Selectrocide® chlorine dioxide in your operation.

Do I need special equipment to generate Selectrocide?

No. Drop the pouch in water, seal the container, wait two hours, remove the pouch. A standard container, test strips, and a sprayer are all you need. Kits are available with everything included.

What are Selectrocide's regulatory credentials?

EPA registered for antimicrobial use in water treatment and surface disinfection. FDA Food Contact Notifications for produce wash, poultry processing, and red meat processing. Certified under NSF/ANSI 60 for drinking water treatment additives. OMRI Listed for organic crop and livestock production. Meets OSHA workplace exposure requirements. Manufactured under an ISO 9001 compliant quality management system.

The sealed membrane micro-reactor is covered by US Patent No. 12,036,525. Full compliance documentation is available on request.

How is this different from the chlorine dioxide product I already use?

Most chlorine dioxide products on the market are stabilized systems that generate very little actual ClO₂, in a highly acidic solution. Selectrocide generates 99.9% pure chlorine dioxide at neutral pH with minimal byproducts. The purity difference is measurable and it shows up in performance, material compatibility, and residue.

Is it safe around food and animals?

Selectrocide holds FDA Food Contact Notifications for produce wash, poultry processing, and red meat processing. It is certified under NSF/ANSI 60 for drinking water treatment additives and is OMRI Listed for organic use.

Will it damage my equipment or surfaces?

Selectrocide has been evaluated across metals, plastics, elastomers, and tubing with no structural degradation observed. It is non-corrosive at use concentrations and leaves no residue or film. Minor cosmetic effects have been noted on copper and brass.

How long does it take to work?

At 5 ppm, Selectrocide achieves a 5-log reduction of Staphylococcus aureus in 60 seconds.

How long can I store it before using it?

Each pouch ships dry and stores for up to two years before activation. No refrigeration and no special storage.

Is it environmentally friendly?

Selectrocide ships as a dry pouch, which removes bulky plastic containers and cuts shipping weight. Generation containers are reused. After use, chlorine dioxide breaks down into chloride and oxygen, leaving no harmful residue.

Do you offer distributorship opportunities?

Yes. Send the wholesale pricing request and a team member will get in touch to talk through your territory and application.

Still have a question? Call 855-256-8299 or email inquiry@selectivemicro.com.

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