Sporicidal Properties of Some Halogens

Abstract

S ummary . Sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloro iso cyanurate, dichlorodimethyl hydantoin, dibromodimethyl hydantoin and an iodophor have been examined for disinfectant activity against spores of Bacillus cereus. Under the test conditions used sodium hypochlorite was the most effective compound and dibromodimethyl hydantoin was least affected by increase in pH from 6.5 to 8; the activity of the iodophor was unaffected in the pH range 2.3–6.5. Bacillus subtilis spores were much more resistant to the disinfectants than were B. cereus spores. The addition of KBr to solutions of sodium dichloro iso yanurate enhanced its activity at pH 9 but not at pH 7 or 8. Mixtures of 1.5–4% of NaOH with NaOCl (200 p of available chlorine/m) were much more rapidly sporicidal than either NaOH or NaOCl (pH 9 and above) alone.