Investigation of hexamethylenediamine elimination in the synthesis of polyhexamethylene guanidine

Abstract

Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydorocloride (PHMG-HCl), a positively charged polymer, is the outstanding antibacterial with wide spectrum of antibacterial and antifungal, capable killing bacteria at very low concentration, and extremely low toxic (level three in the tract and level four through the skin). However, the residual of medium toxic reactant hexamethylenediamine in the synthesized PHMG-HCl causes irritation to sensitive tissue areas. In this study the procedure for hexamethylediamine elimination in the synthesis of polyhexamethylene guanidine was studied and proposed. After the treatment the concentration of HMDA in PHMGHCl was reduced from 1.94 % to 0.42 % and the purified PHMG-HCl did not cause irritation and redness for rabbit’s eyes.