What is an anolyte solution?

21st Energy Solutions uses the process of water electrolysis to produce its various biocide and cleaning products. This process uses an electrical charge to rearrange the molecules in a water and sodium chloride (salt) solution in order to produce two new fluids–anolyte and catholyte solutions.

The anolyte solution contains hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and is the basis for 21st Energy Solutions’ powerful Hydrolyte^Ⓡ biocide product. This HOCl solution is extremely efficient in penetrating cell walls of pathogens and harmful bacteria, making it an eco-friendly and highly effective weapon against the microbes that produce hydrogen sulfide and disrupt oil recovery at well sites.

What is a catholyte solution?

The water electrolysis process also produces a second fluid, which is a catholyte solution. The properties of this solution make it effective as a surfactant, which can be used in all contexts without health and safety concerns for human workers or the surrounding environment.

Specific to the oil and gas industry, Catholyte Zero^Ⓡ (21st Energy Solutions’ catholyte product) has a unique advantage to provide in secondary and tertiary oil recovery operations. It can be used to reduce connate water, maximizing the amount of oil that a crew can recover from a well without relying on measures that are more hazardous for the environment and employees.

What is the difference between anolyte and catholyte?

The new molecular makeup of the resulting anolyte and catholyte solutions give each one a unique set of characteristics that are valuable for different applications. While the catholyte fluid is highly effective as a surfactant, it does not attack and kill bacteria or pathogen cells. The anolyte solution, on the other hand, can be used as a disinfectant and is known to kill a long list of pathogens, including the bacteria responsible for releasing hydrogen sulfide at oil and gas production sites. A comprehensive system for eliminating bacteria and keeping living areas clean will ideally use both anolyte and catholyte solutions in different contexts.

Safety concerns with anolyte solutions

In selecting disinfectants and biocides, many site managers have become accustomed to weighing the effectiveness of products against the hazards that they pose for human employees and the environment when they are used. For instance, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by many chemical cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting agents, contaminating the atmosphere and creating a hazardous environment, particularly for those who already suffer from chronic respiratory conditions.

Hydrolyte^Ⓡ does not produce VOCs, and it can be stored and used without the need for any PPE on the part of the employees who handle it. The low toxicity of this biocide makes it incredibly versatile, especially when combined with its high degree of effectiveness against bacteria.

Safety concerns with catholyte solutions

Catholyte Zero^Ⓡ shares the low toxicity of Hydrolyte^Ⓡ, making it the perfect companion product as a surfactant. It does not endanger the environment and it does not produce any airborne byproducts that threaten the respiratory health of employees who work around it.

In recent years, organizations in the oil and gas industry have become more and more determined to demonstrate to the public their commitment to preserving the environment. Switching to Catholyte Zero^Ⓡ as a surfactant that can be used to eliminate connate water is not only a great way to increase profits through the enhanced recovery of oil, but is also a meaningful step in reducing the use of toxic chemicals on the site

Reasons to choose Hydrolyte^Ⓡ for oil & gas applications

Managers of oil and gas production sites across the US are discovering that Hydrolyte^Ⓡ is the right choice for controlling hydrogen sulfide gas and keeping bacteria from contaminating their operations. Here are a few of the most important reasons that you should give Hydrolyte^Ⓡ, 21st Century Energy Solutions’ anolyte solution, a try at your sites.

It works! Hydrolyte^Ⓡ uses HOCl in a proven mechanism to attack bacteria and destroy its cells from the inside out. Employees at a well can use the biocide in a variety of ways, from downhole applications to treating drilling equipment. As the Hydrolyte^Ⓡ comes into contact with bacteria, the hypochlorous acid quickly penetrates cell walls, then kills the cells. This fast-acting mechanism prevents bacteria from multiplying and releasing dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere.
It’s safe for workers. There are enough other hazards on the work site without worrying about VOCs, toxic chemicals, or other negative side effects that typically arise from the use of competing biocides.
It’s not harmful for the environment. There are no environmental concerns or mitigating processes to follow when using Hydrolyte^Ⓡ. Take a big step towards making your entire operation more eco-friendly than ever before.
On-site generation is available. Ask us about our systems for generating biocide, anolyte disinfectant, and surfactant solutions near the well site, reducing the time, materials, and expense of reordering product. As our partnerships across the country grow, it becomes easier and more convenient for wells to begin incorporating Hydrolyte^Ⓡ into their day-to-day processes.

A revolutionary oil recovery tool

While Catholyte Zero^Ⓡ is widely used in many industries as a catholyte cleaner to remove large particles (dust, food crumbs, liquids, etc.), in the oil and gas industry it claims a different role, and one that has the potential to greatly increase profits for oil production sites. The ability of the catholyte solution to disrupt surface tension of water means that it can be used to penetrate areas that still hold oil after primary drilling and recovery is complete, reducing connate water and allowing the remaining oil to be extracted efficiently. The details on this process are available from the resident experts at 21st Century Energy Solutions–just request a consultation through our website.

Through the process of electrochemical activation of salt and water, 21st Century Energy Solutions have developed biocides, surfactants, and specific protocols for the oil and gas industry. Our biocides and surfactants contain no QUATS or VOC’s and have a “zero” HMIS and NFPA rating making them safer to use than other toxic chemicals. Neither product will burn the skin or irritate the eyes at room temperature. Both products are biodegradable breaking down into salt and water.

Hydrolyte^Ⓡ and OSG-Anolyte biocides are PH neutral, environmentally friendly, low toxic, EPA approved in all states, and kills 99.9999% of labeled microbes. Hydrolyte^Ⓡ and OSG-Anolyte biocides are approved for use in treating Frac Water, Sour Wells, Produced Waters, Oil and Gas Transmission Lines, and Water Flood Injection. Our biocides remediate toxic hydrogen sulfide, eliminating the buildup of damaging deposits of corrosive elements in production systems downhole and surface equipment including frac treatment facilities. By controlling and eliminating bacteria, producers can increase production, decrease costs and turn sour wells into high revenue-producing assets

Super-Catholyte is a high PH (11+) environmentally-safe non toxic surfactant. Commonly used as a drilling fluid, it cuts production costs by limiting corrosion and decreasing friction during the drilling process creating greater efficiency and extending the life of the drill bit and tubulars. Our surfactant can stabilize hydrostatic pressure preventing formation fluids from entering the well bore. Super-Catholyte used in secondary and tertiary recovery reduces interfacial tension of water holding the oil in the formation improving production. Our technology is cost-effective versus SAGT, CO2, and other technologies requiring costly infrastructure.

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FAQS

An anolyte solution containing hypochlorous acid uses the same method as hypochlorous acid that naturally occurs within the human body to attack harmful cells. Due to the HOCl’s neutral electrical charge, it is able to pass through a cell’s walls, where it attacks the cell and kills it quickly. This mechanism works quickly and leaves the cell no opportunity to build up a defense against the biocide.

Both our anolyte and catholyte solutions are generated from water and sodium chloride that have been treated with an electrolysis process. The resulting fluids have low toxicity and can be safely used even around pets and children. In oil/gas applications, our biocide product can be used to kill bacteria downhole and on equipment without harming the ecosystem.

Besides functioning as an agent to disrupt surface tension and enhance secondary and tertiary oil recovery, Catholyte Zero^Ⓡ is a valuable asset as a surfactant and all purpose degreaser in a huge range of different contexts. It is versatile enough to be used in all living and working areas to remove large particles that can harbor illness causing pathogens.

Health and safety in the workplace encompasses far more than the hydrogen sulfide gas that our biocide helps to prevent. As an anolyte disinfectant, Hydrolyte^Ⓡ kills many of the most hazardous and common pathogens that tend to propagate in areas where people spend large amounts of time together. From restrooms to kitchens to dining areas, Hydrolyte^Ⓡ is an ideal disinfectant spray that helps keep employees protected from disease.