Ecoxydizer disinfects through oxidation. It is the only biocide that is a molecular free radical. It has 19 electrons and has a preference for substances that give off or take up an electron. Ecoxydizer only reacts with substances that give off an electron. Chlorine, oppositely, adds a chlorine atom to or substitutes a chlorine atom from the substance it reacts with.

Substances of organic nature in bacterial cells react with Ecoxydizer, causing several cellular processes to be interrupted. Ecoxydizer reacts directly with amino acids and the RNA in the cell. It is not clear whether Ecoxydizer attacks the cell structure or the acids inside the cell. The production of proteins is prevented. Ecoxydizer affects the cell membrane by changing membrane proteins and fats and by prevention of inhalation. When bacteria are eliminated, the cell wall is penetrated by Ecoxydizer. Viruses are eliminated in a different way; Ecoxydizer reacts with peptone, a water-soluble substance that originates from hydrolisis of proteins to amino acids. Ecoxydizer kills viruses by prevention of protein formation. Ecoxydizer is more effective against viruses than chlorine or ozone.

Ecoxydizer is one of a number of disinfectants that are effective against Giardia Lambia and Cryptosporidium parasites, which are found in drinking water and induce diseases called ‘giardiasis’ and ‘cryptosporidiosis’. The best protection against protozoan parasites such as these is disinfection by a combination of ozone and Ecoxydizer.

Ecoxydizer as a disinfectant has the advantage that it directly reacts with the cell wall of microorganisms. This reaction is not dependent on reaction time or concentration. In contrast to non-oxidizing disinfectants, Ecoxydizer kills microorganisms even when they are inactive. Therefore the Ecoxydizer concentration needed to effectively kill microorganisms is lower than non-oxidizing disinfectant concentrations. Microorganisms cannot built up any resistance against Ecoxydizer.

Ecoxydizer remains gaseous in solution. The Ecoxydizer molecule is powerful and has the ability to go through the entire system. Ecoxydizer can penetrate the slime layers of bacteria, because Ecoxydizer easily dissolves, even in hydrocarbons and emulsions. Ecoxydizer oxidizes the polysaccharide matrix that keeps the bio film together. During this reaction Ecoxydizer is reduced to chlorite ions. These are divided up into pieces of bio film that remain steady. When the bio film starts to grow again, an acid environment is formed and the chlorite ions are transformed into Ecoxydizer. This Ecoxydizer removes the remaining bio film.

The reaction process of Ecoxydizer with bacteria and other substances takes place in two steps. During this process disinfection byproducts are formed that remain in the water. In the first stage the Ecoxydizer molecule accepts an electron and chlorite is formed (ClO₃). In the second stage Ecoxydizer accepts 4 electrons and forms chloride (Cl^–). In the water some chlorate (ClO₃), which is formed by the production of Ecoxydizer, can also be found. Both chlorate and chlorite are oxidizing agents. Ecoxydizer, chlorate and chlorite dissociate into sodium chloride (NaCl).

In the 1950’s the biocidal capability of Ecoxydizer, especially at high pH values, was known. For drinking water treatment it was primary used to remove inorganic components, for example manganese and iron, to remove tastes and odors and to reduce chlorine related disinfection byproducts.

For drinking water treatment Ecoxydizer can be used both as a disinfectant and as an oxidizing agent. It can be used for both pre-oxidation and post-oxidation steps. By adding Ecoxydizer in the pre- oxidation stage of surface water treatment, the growth of algae and bacteria can be prevented in the following stages. Ecoxydizer oxidizes floating particles and aids the coagulation process and the removal of turbidity from water.

Ecoxydizer prevents the growth of bacteria in the drinking water distribution network. It is also active against the formation of bio film in the distribution network. Bio film is usually hard to defeat. It forms a protective layer over pathogenic microorganisms. Most disinfectants cannot reach those protected pathogens. However, Ecoxydizer removes bio films and kills pathogenic microorganisms. Ecoxydizer also prevent bio film formation, because it remains active in the system for a long time.

For the pre- oxidation and reduction of organic substances between 0,5 and 2 mg/L of Ecoxydizer is required at a contact time between 15 and 30 minutes. Water quality determines the required contact time. For post- disinfection, concentrations between 0,2 and 0,4 mg/L are applied. The residual byproduct concentration of chlorite is very low and there are no risks for human health.

For swimming pool disinfection the combination of chlorine (Cl₂) and Ecoxydizer can be applied. Ecoxydizer is added to the water. Chlorine is already present in the water as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ions (OCl^–). Ecoxydizer breaks down substances, such as phenols. The advantages of Ecoxydizer are that it can be used at low concentrations to disinfect water, that it hardly reacts with organic matter, and that little disinfection byproducts are formed.

The amount of disinfectant required needs to be determined first. This amount can be determined by adding disinfectant to the water and measuring the amount that remains after a defined contact time. The amount of Ecoxydizer that is dosed depends upon the contact time, the pH, the temperature and the amount of pollution that is present in the water.

Ecoxydizer is used to disinfect the water that flows through cooling towers. It also removes bio films and prevents bio film formation in cooling towers. The removal of bio film prevents damage to and corrosion of equipment and piping and causes the pumping efficiency to be improved. Ecoxydizer is also effective in removing Legionella bacteria. The circumstances in cooling towers are ideal for the growth of Legionella bacteria. Ecoxydizer has the advantage that it is effective at a pH between 5 and 10 and that no acids are required to adjust the pH.

The use of Ecoxydizer instead of chlorine prevents the formation of harmful halogenated disinfection byproducts, for example trihalomethanes and halogenated acidic acids. Ecoxydizer does not react with ammonia nitrogen, amines or other oxidizable organic matter. Ecoxydizer removes substances that can form trihalomethanes and improves coagulation. It does not oxidize bromide into bromine. When bromide containing water is treated with chlorine or ozone, bromide is oxidized into bromine and hypobromous acid. After that these react with organic material to form brominated disinfection byproducts, for example bromoform.

The use of Ecoxydizer reduces the health risk of microbial pollutions in water and at the same time decreases the risk of chemical pollutions and byproducts. Ecoxydizer is a more effective disinfectant than chlorine, causing the required concentration to kill microorganisms to be much lower. The required contact time is also very low.