Disinfectant

Description

A chemical or physical treatment that inhibits or kills microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans). By the mid-19th century, disinfectants, such as Phenol (carbolic acid), and Iodine, were recognized for their ability to reduce infractions. Currently the following major classes of chemical disinfecting compounds are used:

• Heavy metals and their compounds: Copper, Silver (silver sulfadiazing, Silver nitrate), and mercury (Merthiolate, Mercuric chloride)

• Halogens: iodine (Betadine), and chlorine compounds (chlorine gas, Sodium hypochlorite, chloramine, Hexachlorophene, Chlorhexidine)

• Alcohols: ethanol, isopropanol

• Coal tar compounds (Cresol, Creosote, Phenol, phenolics) and Pine oil

• Surfactants: both cationic and anionic detergents

• Gas phase disinfectants: Ozone, Ethylene oxide, Sulfur dioxide, Formaldehyde, chlorine gas

• Ammonia: quaternary ammonia compounds kill gram positive bacteria

• Oxidizers: Ozone, Ethylene oxide; Hydrogen peroxide

• Aldehydes and organic acids: Formaldehyde, Glutaraldehyde, Sorbic acid, Citric acid, Benzoic acid

Physical methods of disinfection include:

• Radiation: infrared (heat sterilization) and ultraviolet light (surface only)

• Moist heat: boiling or steam autoclaving

• Pasteurization: heating and cooling cycles

• Filtration: laminar flow fume hoods

• Low Temperature: stops growth but does not kill all spores

• Desiccation: prevents growth and replication but does not kill spores

• Osmotic pressure:

Synonyms and Related Terms

antiseptic; germicide; biocide

Risks

Mercury compounds are poisonous. Many antiseptic cause skin irritation.

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 271

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• A Glossary of Paper Conservation Terms, Margaret Ellis (ed.), Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York City, 1998

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Disinfectant." (Accessed 7 Sept. 2004 ).

• Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000

• Website address: swyslwyg://76/htp://mindquest.net/biology/microbiology/outlines/u_cgrwth.html