High Efficacy of Grignard Pure(TM), a Triethylene Glycol-Based Material, in Neutralizing Airborne Microbial Agents

Grishma Desai, Jamie Balarashti, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, Emanuel Goldman, William Jordan, Etienne Grignard, GEDIMINAS MAINELIS, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

     Abstract Number: 293
     Working Group: Indoor Air Purification Technologies, Best Practices, and their Health Impacts

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of airborne transmission in spreading infectious diseases, particularly in indoor environments. Historical research from the 1940s and 50s indicated the potential of triethylene glycol (TEG) as an effective agent against airborne pathogens. Subsequently, comprehensive safety assessments have demonstrated TEG’s negligible toxicity when used appropriately. Grignard Pure™, an antimicrobial product developed for easy airborne dispersion, uses TEG as its active ingredient. Our earlier work showed that low concentrations of airborne Grignard Pure™ (0.04 mg/m^3 to 0.5 mg/m^3) can inactivate 2-3 logs of airborne MS2 virus, used as a surrogate for airborne viral pathogens. We extend our initial work and present efficacy of Grignard Pure™ against an array of other airborne microbial agents that are also used as surrogates for pathogenic microorganisms: gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria innocua, gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella aerogenes and Salmonella typhimurium, bacteriophage Phi6, mycobacteria Mycobacterium smegmatis, and even hardy mold spores Aspergillus brasiliensis. We show that Grignard Pure™, when dispersed, can inactivate 99-99.9% (net 2-3 logs) of airborne non-mold organisms within 30 min. Even hardy mold spores were inactivated with an efficacy of 96% (net log of 1.4) within 30 min. By contrast, when the same microorganisms were treated with Grignard Pure™ in liquid form (as opposed to airborne dispersion), inactivation was substantially lower. Our findings not only demonstrate high potential of Grignard Pure™ as an effective and safe air treatment but also emphasize the importance of appropriate testing protocols. Specifically, results of surface inactivation testing with a liquid agent cannot be directly extrapolated to airborne efficacy of the same antimicrobial agent. Overall, the use of TEG-based products, such as Grignard Pure™, would enhance our toolkit for treating air in indoor spaces, thereby potentially minimizing the transmission of infectious diseases and future pandemics.