Abstract
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) was developed by Japanese companies over 20 years ago. SAEW has the advantage of potent sterilizing action while being relatively safe. This study evaluated the potential application of SAEW in spatial disinfection. Prior to experiments involving spatial spraying, the ability of SAEW to remove seven type of microorganisms that cause food poisoning was studied in vitro. Results indicated that free chlorine in SAEW, even at a low concentration (30 mg/L), was able to remove Cladosporium cladosporioides, a typical airborne fungus that degrades food, and spores such as Bacillus subtilis, a hardy bacterium. In an experiment involving spatial spraying, 3.43 log10 CFU/100 L of Staphylococcus epidermidis was sprayed in a room-sized space; the same space was then sprayed with SAEW. The number of settling microbes was measured and the sterilizing ability of SAEW was assessed. Results indicated that the concentration of S. epidermidis in the space was completely removed after 20 minutes of SAEW spraying. The above findings indicate that SAEW may be used to remove airborne microorganisms via spatial spraying.
Highlights
Hypochlorite-based and chlorine dioxide-based agents are widely used around the world as chlorine-based sanitizers
When a dilute sodium chloride solution is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell with a diaphragm, a strongly acidic aqueous solution is generated in the anode chamber and a strongly alkaline aqueous solution is generated in the cathode chamber
Results indicated that Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) with an available chlorine concentration of about 30 mg/L has sufficient sterilizing action, even able to kill Bacillus spores within 15 minutes
Summary
Hypochlorite-based and chlorine dioxide-based agents are widely used around the world as chlorine-based sanitizers. Available sodium hypochlorite solutions have free available chlorine concentrations of 50,000–120,000 mg/L; this is typically diluted to 100–200 mg/L when used. Bromic acid can contaminate sodium hypochlorite solutions, as a by-product of the production process. Bromic acid is a chemical substance that recent research suggests is carcinogenic [1]. Certain interactions between sodium hypochlorite and organic matter can generate chloroform (a trihalomethane) [2], another chemical substance that is suspected of being carcinogenic [3]. Chlorine dioxide is typically available as stabilized chlorine dioxide ( “stabilized chlorite”). Stabilized chlorine dioxide is the general name given to a substance or mixture that generates chlorine dioxide rather than the actual name of a substance.
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