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BARDAC 2250 R is a commercially used twin-chain quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) widely applied as an active antimicrobial ingredient in industrial microbiocides, hard-surface disinfectants, and water-treatment products.
Its principal active constituent is didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC), CAS 7173-51-5.
This review covers chemical identity, physical-chemical properties, synthesis, mechanism of antimicrobial action, applications (water treatment, cooling towers, industrial sanitizing, food-contact sanitizers when formulated appropriately), formulation and stability, analytical methods, toxicology and environmental fate, regulatory status, handling/worker safety, compatibility and mixture constraints, alternatives, and recommendations for use and environmental management. Key regulatory and safety facts are cited from EPA product labels and safety data sheets.
Identification and synonyms
Product name: BARDAC 2250 R (often marketed as Bardac 2250, Bardac™ 2250 Microbiocide).
Active substance (typical): didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (twin-chain quaternary ammonium).
CAS Registry Number (active): 7173-51-5.
Other synonyms / trade names: Didecyldimethylammonium chloride; DDAC; Bardac 22; Bardac 2240/2250/2270/2280 variants; Arquad 210; BTC 1010, etc. (nomenclature varies with formulation/concentration).
Chemical structure and properties
Chemical identity
Name (IUPAC-style): N,N-dimethyl-N-(decan-1-yl)decan-1-aminium chloride (often presented as didecyldimethylammonium chloride).
Molecular formula (active cation): often written as C_?H_?N^+Cl^− depending on exact alkyl chain length distribution (commercial products are mixtures centered on C10–C12 dialkyl chains).
Physical properties (typical for DDAC concentrates)
Appearance: pale yellow to amber liquid (concentrate).
Odor: slight amine/quaternary character.
Solubility: soluble in water (soluble as chloride salt), miscible with many aqueous systems; sometimes formulated in glycols or water-miscible solvents for stability.
pH (of typical solutions): near neutral in dilute aqueous solutions but product concentrates may vary.
Density and viscosity: depend on formulation and concentration; example QAC product densities ~0.94–1.0 g·cm⁻³ for some analogs.
Manufacture and supply
Commercial production of didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride involves quaternization of tertiary amines (e.g., N,N-dimethyldecylamine) with an appropriate alkyl halide or via other alkylation routes, followed by conversion to the chloride salt.
Manufacturers blend and standardize to active-ingredient concentrations (e.g., 50% w/w, 80% w/w or other grades marketed under Bardac line numbers).
Supply is global—sold by specialty chemical distributors and by Lonza (historical Bardac brand) or regional suppliers.
Mechanism of antimicrobial action
Quaternary ammonium compounds are cationic surfactants that interact with microbial cell envelopes:
Adsorption to cell surface: the cationic QAC binds to negatively charged sites on membranes (lipoteichoic acids, LPS).
Membrane insertion and disruption: hydrophobic alkyl chains insert into lipid bilayers, disrupting membrane integrity.
Leakage and lysis: membrane disruption leads to leakage of cytoplasmic contents, metabolic collapse and cell death.
Additional effects: denaturation of proteins, interference with respiration and enzyme systems.
Twin-chain QACs (like DDAC) often display stronger membrane-disrupting potency than single-chain ammoniums due to greater hydrophobic interaction with membranes.
Activity covers Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, many enveloped viruses, fungi and certain algae when formulated correctly.
Applications and uses
Water treatment and industrial microbiocide
Primary uses include control of algae and bacterial slimes in recirculating cooling towers and industrial water systems, oil-field water flood systems, and saltwater disposal systems. Bardac 2250 Microbiocide formulations are designed for metered addition to circulating systems; slug dosing regimes are used for severe fouling control.
Hard-surface disinfectants and sanitizers
When used as an active ingredient in registered formulations (FIFRA/other), Bardac derivatives are used in disinfectants and sanitisers for institutional, industrial and sometimes food-processing environments (formulation-dependent approvals required).
They are commonly used in cleaners, floor sanitizers, and food-contact sanitizing products when label guidance is followed.
Other uses
Emulsifying or antistatic additives in certain industrial products (less common).
Ingredient in formulations where cationic surfactant/antimicrobial properties are desired.
Efficacy and spectrum
Bactericidal: broad spectrum (Gram-positive and Gram-negative).
Fungicidal: activity against many yeasts and filamentous fungi at proper concentrations.
Algicidal: effective against many freshwater algae species (hence its use in cooling towers).
Virucidal: effective against many enveloped viruses; efficacy against non-enveloped viruses is variable and formulation dependent.
Efficacy depends heavily on concentration, contact time, water chemistry (hardness, organics), and presence of interfering surfactants or anionic compounds (QACs are inactivated by anionic surfactants and certain soaps).
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BARDAC 2250 R
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
