Rider Making Hand Sanitizer For Hospitals Fighting Coronavius

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — The outbreak of new coronavirus has brought with it a shortage of things one would never expect to desperately seek: when was the last time you were able to get toilet paper without creeping in the shadows?

Toilet paper is by no means the only thing in short supply. Hand sanitizer was once plentiful, but has become scarce. It is desperately needed at hospitals where health care professionals constantly need to stay clean.

A group of Rider University science faculty are working together to produce hand sanitizer in the University’s general chemistry lab and donating it to local hospitals, the university announced.

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“Everyone wishes they could do something right now, even just to stay busy and have a purpose,” Rider Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Jamie Ludwig said. "I hope this will be helpful.”

Ludwig produced the batch at the behest of Dr. Danielle Jacobs, an associate professor of chemistry. Jacobs had seen news reports of facilities retooling to meet the demand of the hand sanitizer shortage.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in concert with other government agencies, lifted restrictions to encourage some individuals, such as licensed pharmacists, and organizations, such as distilleries, to create their own batches. Academic labs, like those at Rider, are well-suited to produce hand sanitizer as well.

“This is something that we should do,” Jacobs said. “There are so many people on the front line when we are limited to being home. I'm grateful that we have access to these valuable resources during a time when they otherwise would be going unused.”

The professors said the recipe and process to make hand sanitizer is simple and safe. They followed the guidelines and procedures of the World Health Organization, producing the substance out of ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerol and sterile distilled water — common lab items.

Ludwig is one of the few people permitted on campus at this time, so she volunteered to make the batch. She has been visiting the lab to maintain the bacterial cultures for her research. Jacobs is ensuring the final batch maintains the proper concentration of alcohol.

Ludwig took her time in consideration of the stakes: Infection can be the difference between life and death.

“The process probably took longer than it should have,” Ludwig said. “I wanted to make it perfectly.”

As the coronavirus outbreak began to rapidly expand in the U.S. in February and March, hand washing became an essential measure to help reduce the spread of the virus. If soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says alcohol-based hand sanitizers (that contain at least 60% alcohol) are the next best thing.

Alcohol is key. It is the active ingredient in hand sanitizer and must fall within a 60% to 90% concentration to be effective.

"If the concentration is too low, it won't kill germs effectively," Ludwig said. "If the alcohol concentration is too high, it can evaporate too quickly and be ineffective, and it can actually shock the microorganisms without killing them."

The hydrogen peroxide works as an antibacterial agent, and the glycerol creates the familiar gel-like consistency that aids in application.

Jacobs and Ludwig hope they will have the opportunity to make more hand sanitizer, at least until Rider's current supply of ethanol runs out, but possibly even beyond that.

"We want to use what we have," Jacobs said, "but we are open to working with people who have chemicals, sterile storage containers and even equipment to donate. That would help us contribute to smaller community organizations who, like hospitals, play a huge role in keeping our community healthy and safe but are too often neglected."

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know