What is the Difference Between Triclosan and Triclocarban

The key difference between triclosan and triclocarban is that triclosan occurs as a white solid with a slight phenolic odor, whereas triclocarban occurs as white plates or white powder with a characteristic odor.

Triclosan and triclocarban are important antimicrobial agents. They have different appearances and different aromas.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Triclosan 
3. What is Triclocarban
4. Triclosan vs Triclocarban in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Triclosan vs Triclocarban 

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that occurs in some consumer products such as toothpaste, soaps, detergents, toys, and surgical cleaning treatments. We can abbreviate this name as TCS. Triclosan is similar in action and use to triclocarban.

In the 1970s, triclosan was used as a hospital scrub. Later, its uses and applications got increased; now, it’s useful in producing soaps, shampoos, detergents, deodorants, toothpaste, mouthwashes, cleaning agents, and pesticides. Moreover, we can find this substance as a component in kitchen utensils, toys, bedding, socks, and trash bags. This antibacterial agent is added to many consumer products in order to stop the growth of bacteria, fungi, and mildew. Commercially, this substance is incorporated into fire horses, dye bath vats, conveyor belts, and ice-making equipment as an antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, it is directly added to commercial HVAC coils where it can prevent microbial growth that can contribute to product generation.

Moreover, triclosan is an organic compound that appears as a white solid having a slight aroma that resembles the phenolic odor. We can categorize this substance as a polychloro phenoxy phenol. In addition, it is a chlorinated aromatic compound having functional groups that represent both ethers and phenols. Phenols often tend to demonstrate antibacterial properties.

Triclosan can dissolve in solvents such as ethanol, methanol, diethyl ether, and strong bases. However, this substance is poorly soluble in water. We can produce triclosan by treating 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-methoxydiphenyl ether with aluminum chloride.

What is Triclocarban?

Triclocarban is an antibacterial chemical compound that was commonly used in the past, but it is phased out now from personal care products such as soap and lotions. Originally, this substance was developed for the field of medicine. The mode of action of this substance is not well known. However, it is effective in fighting infections by targeting the growth of bacteria.

Triclocarban was used as an antimicrobial and antifungal component in personal care products such as lotions, toothpaste, soaps, and plastic. But by 2016, the use of this substance had declined to a percentage close to 40% in personal care products.

Triclocarban can be produced by two major routes: the first method is the reaction between 4-chlorophenylisocyanate and 3,4-dichloroaniline, while the second method is the reaction between 3,4-dichlorophenylisocyanate and 4-chloroaniline.

What is the Difference Between Triclosan and Triclocarban?

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent that occurs in some consumer products such as toothpaste, soaps, detergents, toys, surgical cleaning treatments, etc. Meanwhile, triclocarban is an antibacterial chemical compound that was commonly used earlier but is phased out now from personal care products such as soap and lotions. The key difference between triclosan and triclocarban is that triclosan occurs as a white solid with a slight phenolic odor, whereas triclocarban occurs as white plates or white powder with a characteristic odor.

The below infographic presents the differences between triclosan and triclocarban in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Triclosan vs Triclocarban

Triclosan and Triclocarban are important antimicrobial agents. They have different appearances and different aromas. The key difference between triclosan and triclocarban is that triclosan appears as a white solid with a slight phenolic odor whereas Triclocarban appears as white plates or white powder with a characteristic odor.

Reference:

1.”Should You Worry About Triclosan?” Mayo Clinic.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Triclosan” By Harbin – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Triclocarban” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia