Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are surface-active substances containing a qua-ternary cationic nitrogen atom, substituted by alkyl chains of varying length. They are used as biocides, pesticides, disinfectants and additives for technical applications.

BAC is a mixture of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides of various even-numbered alkyl chain lengths (C8-C18). The greatest biocide activity is associated with the C12-C14 deriva-tives, which are the main components of the mixture.

DDAC is a mixture of alkyl-quaternary ammonium salts with typical alkyl chain lengths of C8, C10 and C12. C10 is the main component and makes more than 90 % of the mixture. In most cases the term DDAC is thus used for the Didecyldimethylammonium chloride congener.

An MRL level of 0.1 mg/kg was established in 2014 for both DDAC and BAC in all food products (Reg. EU 1119/2014)

RPS provides ISO IEC 17025 accredited analysis of the following QACs  down to 0.01mg/Kg in vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, honey, nuts, dry legumes, forage crops, seeds, cereals, grains and similar matrices.