Chlorine dioxide is a size-selective antimicrobial agent.

ABSTRACT:

Background / aims

ClO2, the so-called "ideal biocide", could also be applied as an antiseptic if it was understood why the solution killing microbes rapidly does not cause any harm to humans or to animals. Our aim was to find the source of that selectivity by studying its reaction-diffusion mechanism both theoretically and experimentally.

Methods

ClO2 permeation measurements through protein membranes were performed and the time delay of ClO2 transport due to reaction and diffusion was determined. To calculate ClO2 penetration depths and estimate bacterial killing times, approximate solutions of the reaction-diffusion equation were derived. In these calculations evaporation rates of ClO2 were also measured and taken into account.

Results

The rate law of the reaction-di

SUBMITTER: Noszticzius Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3818415 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature