Quaternary ammonium cation

Which translates to about one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of potable water.

Or using a quaternary ammonium solution, often called QUAT, at two hundred parts per million.

Let's look at why an operator chooses one over the other.

Bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, is cheap, and it's fast-acting.

It breaks down rapidly in sunlight, heat, or when it hits heavy organic loads like heavy dirt or grease.

It loses its sanitizing power very quickly.

So what about QUAT?

Quaternary ammonium is often preferred in commercial settings because it leaves a residual antimicrobial film on the surface, continuing to kill bacteria even after it dries.