Using 99% Ethanol for Hand Sanitizer Gel

Yes, 99% pure ethanol can be used to make hand sanitizer gel, but it is important to note that it is not the most effective concentration for killing germs. For optimal germicidal activity, alcohol-based hand sanitizers should contain between 60% and 80% alcohol by volume.

Pure alcohol (like 99% or even 96%) is less effective because it evaporates too quickly and does not have enough water content. Water is necessary to help denature the proteins of microorganisms, which is how alcohol kills them.

Therefore, if you use 99% ethanol, you will need to dilute it with water (or the water content from other ingredients like gel thickeners) to bring the final alcohol concentration down to the 60-80% range for maximum effectiveness against bacteria and viruses.

Products like Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof, Research/Perfumer Grade) and Ethyl Alcohol (96% , Perfumer Grade, Low-Odor) are suitable for cosmetic use and can be used as the alcohol source in hand sanitizers, provided they are properly diluted to the effective concentration range.