Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T18:42:26.007Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The use of hypochlorites for aerial disinfection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

A. H. Baker
Affiliation:
From the Portslade Laboratories, Portslade, Sussex
S. R. Finn
Affiliation:
From the Portslade Laboratories, Portslade, Sussex
C. C. Twort
Affiliation:
From the Portslade Laboratories, Portslade, Sussex
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A commercial preparation of sodium hypochlorite dispersed in the form of a mist has been tested for germicidal action on bacteria suspended in the air.

The relative merits of acid, neutral and alkaline solutions have been discussed.

A maximum of efficiency dependent on dilution has been shown to exist, and experiments with water and glycerol as diluents have been performed.

The value of hypochlorous acid gas and chlorine as aerial bactericides has been tested, and experimental evidence advanced to show that while these are to some extent effective as gases, the acid, at any rate, is more lethal in solution as a mist.

Further evidence of the importance in aerial disinfection of size and evaporation rate of mist particles has been obtained.

Objections have been raised to the proprietary use of the preparation on account of the liberation of chlorine, and its high salt content, but the necessity for the presence of a certain amount of salt has been shown.

Decrease in germicidal activity of the mists when required to sterilize atomized salivas has been indicated.

The active persistence of sodium hypochlorite mists has been shown to be short.

A few notes on the use of ultra-violet light and nitration methods for combating aerial infections have been added.

It was found that the greater part of a magnesium oxide smoke inhaled by mice was retained in the upper respiratory passages.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1940

References

REFERENCES

Bechhold, H. (1935). Improvements in rendering micro-organisms innocuous. British Patent No. 472,623.Google Scholar
Douglas, S. R., Hill, L. & Smith, W. (1928). Effect of antiseptic sprays on the bacterial content of air. J. Ind. Hyg. 10, 219–36.Google Scholar
Finn, S. R. & Powell, E. O. (1939). Evaporation of mist particles and its bearing on air sterilization. Nature, Lond., 144, 864.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masterman, A. T. (1938). Air purification in inhabited rooms by spraying or atomizing hypochlorites. J. Ind. Hyg. 20, 278–88.Google Scholar
Pulvertaft, R. J. V., Lemon, G. J. & Walker, J. W. (1939). Atmospheric and surface sterilization by aerosols. Lancet, 1, 443–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pulvertaft, R. J. V. & Walker, J. W. (1939). The control of air-borne bacteria and fungus spores by means of aerosols. J. Hyg., Camb., 39, 696708.Google ScholarPubMed
Trillat, A. (1938). Propriétés des aérosols microbiens: applications. Ann. Hyg. publ., Paris, 119, 6472.Google Scholar
Trillat, A. (1938). Sur la désinfection dite “permanente”. Hyg. soc. 7, 178.Google Scholar
Twort, C. C., Baker, A. H., Finn, S. R. & Powell, E. O. (1940). The disinfection of closed atmospheres with germicidal aerosols. J. Hyg., Camb., 40, 253344.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, W. F. (1936). Centrifuging apparatus–U.S. Patent No. 2,043,313.Google Scholar