Wayakit: citric acid-based disinfectant with enhanced germ-killing performance
Wayakit offers a natural, EPA-approved citric acid disinfectant enhanced with essential oil components, achieving 5-log reduction against bacteria and viruses in under 5 minutes. The biodegradable, waterless formulation meets aircraft material safety standards and is skin-safe, targeting commercial cleaning, transportation, and consumer hygiene markets.
Overview
Wayakit is a biotechnology company developing high-performance disinfectants that leverage citric acid, an EPA-approved active ingredient, enhanced through proprietary combinations of natural essential oil components (EOCs). The formulation overcomes common limitations of essential oils, such as high volatility and low solubility, by creating inclusion complexes that potentialize antimicrobial and antiviral activity. The result is a fast-acting, skin-safe, biodegradable disinfectant suitable for hard surfaces across transportation, facilities management, industrial, and household applications.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Achieves a minimum 5-log reduction in less than 5 minutes against tested pathogens
- Validated efficacy against four bacterial strains: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, and E. coli
- Validated efficacy against three viruses: Human Adenovirus 5, SARS-CoV 229E, and Hepatitis A
- Bacteria kill times: E. coli (30 sec), P. aeruginosa (30 sec), S. enterica (30 sec), S. aureus (2.5 min)
- Non-enveloped virus kill times: Adenovirus (30 sec), Hepatitis A (30 sec)
- Enveloped virus kill time: SARS-CoV (30 sec)
- Compliant with OECD No. 406 Skin Sensitization Test, scoring 0.00 on the Magnusson Klingman scale
- Conforms with Boeing Specification Standard 7434, AMS 1452C, AMS 1550B, and AMS 1453A for aircraft interior disinfectant use
- Waterless, biodegradable formulation with natural compounds
- Current production capacity of 11,000 tonnes per year across Mexico and Saudi Arabia
Technology readiness level
The formulation is commercially validated, with third-party screening tests confirming efficacy and safety. A Seed Fund Agreement of 550K USD supported initial development, and the current formulation is protected under a trade secret agreement with KAUST. Ongoing validation includes Accelerated Storage Stability testing, Characterization and Efficacy Testing across dilutions to establish the lower certified limit, and Toxicity testing for EPA registration in the United States, expected to complete in approximately six months. The company is closing its pre-Series A funding round and seeking strategic partners to scale globally into B2C markets.
About Wayakit
Wayakit is a biotechnology company founded by Latin American women scientists with a focus on developing sustainable hygiene solutions. The company originated from research conducted at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and offers a range of waterless, biodegradable cleaning products. Its formulations utilize natural compounds enhanced through scientific research, aiming to reduce environmental footprints, health risks, and operational costs. Wayakit is certified as a women-owned business and operates internationally with a presence in countries including Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Colombia. The company provides cleaning solutions for various sectors such as transportation, facilities management, households, automotive, and industrial applications. By leveraging biotechnology, Wayakit seeks to provide high-performance cleaning alternatives that align with environmental preservation goals. Its product line includes specialized kits and cleaners for surfaces, furniture, pets, and vehicles, which are marketed toward both industrial clients and individual consumers seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical-based products.
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