Benzalkonium chloride leaked into basement floor

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the leakage of benzalkonium chloride in a basement and the resulting odors and potential cleaning methods. Participants explore the implications of the chemical's properties, the porosity of concrete, and the effectiveness of various cleaning approaches.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a leakage of benzalkonium chloride that resulted in odors persisting in the basement, raising concerns about the porosity of the concrete and the need for cleaning.
  • Another participant suggests that if the concrete is unsealed, it is likely porous and may retain the chemical, recommending the use of a concrete sealant.
  • A later reply provides detailed information about the active and inert ingredients in the product, noting that the active ingredient concentration is low and speculating that the odors may be due to the inert ingredients or the new carpet and padding rather than the benzalkonium chloride itself.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the source of the odors and the effectiveness of potential cleaning methods. There is no consensus on the best approach to address the issue or the implications of the chemical leakage.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the lack of knowledge regarding the cleaning process and the specific interactions between the chemical and the concrete. The discussion reflects varying levels of expertise and understanding of the chemical properties involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals dealing with chemical spills, particularly in residential settings, and those interested in the properties of quaternary ammonium compounds and their effects on building materials.

Damnation2
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A cheap bottle I had containing benzalkonium chloride, for household cleaning, leaked entirely into one spot on my basement floor. The leakage wasn't noticed until after my carpet was bleached orange and the benzalkonium chloride solution was already dry. The carpet and padding have both been replaced since then; however, the fumes emanating throughout my basement have not gone away! Do I need to peel-up the padding and scrub the concrete surface using a special surfactant? I have no clue about how porous basement concrete can be, but maybe the liquid penetrated deep into the concrete material.

How bad can this be? All thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated. Please offer any insight you can. Thank you.
 
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Unless your concrete was coated with a sealer, it is probably quite porous.
Otherwise I'm useless here. I have no idea how to clean it up.
You could try painting the floor with a concrete sealant. They are easy to find at hardware stores in California.
 
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Sorry, ignore 'benzalkonium chloride'. I've discarded the bottle and I wasn't able to find the actual ingredients until now.

Here they are:

Active Ingredients
Alkyl (C14, 50%; C12, 40%; C16, 10%) 0.034%
Octyl Decyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride 0.026%
Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride 0.013%
Dioctyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride 0.013%
Inert Ingredients 99.914%
Unless your concrete was coated with a sealer, it is probably quite porous.
Otherwise I'm useless here. I have no idea how to clean it up.
You could try painting the floor with a concrete sealant.

Thanks. The concrete surface wasn't sealed before the leakage. If these fumes really are coming from the concrete, are you saying a concrete seal might be able to contain the fumes, or that it might prevent a similar problem from occurring in the future?
 
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Hi Damnation2. I am not a chemist, but a quick Google of one of the ingredient names suggests that they are quaternary ammonium compounds, a group that includes benzalkonium chloride.

Your bottle had less than 0.1% of the active ingredient. I work with solutions of ~2% benzalkonium chloride frequently - it's great for getting rid of mold, mildew, algae on concrete etc. (see product "Wet and Forget"). I find those solutions nearly odorless. I don't know what you are smelling, but it is more likely to be related to the "inert" ingredients of the product that leaked, or (more likely IMO) the replacement padding and carpet you installed, than the active ingredients of the product that leaked.
 
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