How it works
Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic alcohol that disrupts bacterial membranes, inhibiting growth. At 0.9% it is effective against common contaminants while remaining a small fraction of the solution.
Why concentration is fixed
Too little and the preservative effect fails; more brings no additional benefit and increases the chance of interacting with the dissolved compound. The 0.9% figure is a long-established balance between the two.
Compatibility
Some peptides interact with benzyl alcohol, and certain proteins are destabilised by it. Where a compound is documented as requiring preservative-free solvent, that instruction is about the chemistry of the compound and not a general preference.
In-use period
The preservative allows repeated entry within a limited window, counted from first entry. Each entry is an opportunity for contamination, and the preservative reduces the consequences rather than removing them.
Research use only. This page is explanatory and does not recommend any use, quantity or procedure. REVIVE LAB supplies reference materials for laboratory research. These are not medicines and are not for human or veterinary consumption. Anyone considering the use of any compound in humans should do so only under qualified medical supervision.