Subject: Lysol
Lysol [with or without (R)] has been around for a very long time and the formulation has changed many times (see <URL:http://www.mum.org/lysol1.htm> for an interesting historical aside concerning Lehn and Fink, Inc's Lysol from the late 1920's). Without the (R), as a generic term, the dictionary lists it as carbolic acid (see Glenda Steven's posting on the subject). Lysol(R) is a product of Reckitt and Coleman, Inc., which is located in New Jersey, and also Kingston upon Hall, U.K. The product line, of course, is varied, with a range of disinfectant sprays and liquids, and household cleansers. I haven't seen "hospital grade" Lysol on the retail shelves in the U.S. for quite a while, and have no info about its current composition. Some of the current products you're likely to encounter (in the U.S. at least) are Lysol(R) Brand II Disinfectant Spray 1. Alkyl(50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl ammonium saccharinate : 0.1% 2. Ethanol : 79.0% 3. Inert ingredients: : 20.9% Lysol(R) Brand disinfectant Deodorizing Cleaner 1. n-Alkyl(50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides : 0.0800% 2. Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride : 0.1250% 3. Dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride : 0.0625% 4. Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride : 0.0625% 5. Inert ingredients : 98.9500% There have indeed been forms of Lysol(R) contain o-phenyl phenol. A 1996 MSDS from Reckitt & Coleman Inc. for "Lysol Phenolic Disinfectant Cleaner gives (for liquid, gallon bottle, a clear green liquid, a form I don't think I've ever seen): Isopropyl Alcohol (SARA 313) : 4.04% O-Benzyl-P-Chlorophenol : 7.24% 2-Phenylphenol (SARA 313) : 2.23% (2-Phenylphenol is a synonym for o-phenyl phenol). FWIW, Conservation Information Network's Materials Database (MCIN), which is no longer being maintained but is still searchable by subscribers, has an entry only for the spray. The record seems not to be dated, so could be more than 10 years old (MCIN started in 1987). It gives the contents for "Sterling Drug Ltd., Lysol Disinfectant Spray, Scent II" as O-Phenylphenol 0.100% Anhydrous Ethanol 67.724% N-Alkyl N-Ethyl Morpholinium Ethyl Sulfates 0.035% and says that it is "N[o]t in use in conservation at present" *** Conservation DistList Instance 12:46 Distributed: Monday, November 23, 1998 Message Id: cdl-12-46-004 ***Received on Tuesday, 17 November, 1998