COMPARATIVE FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY OF A NEW QUATERNARY AMMONIUM SALT, N-ALKYL-N-HYDROXYETHL-N,N-DIMETHYLAMMONIUM BUTYL-PHOSPHATE AND COMMONLY USED DISINFECTANTS

We synthesized a new quaternary ammonium salt, N-alkyl-N-2-hydroxyethy l-N.N-dimethylammonium butyl phosphate (ABP) that does not precipitate in the presence of anionic surfactants by incorporating a paired buty l phosphate anion into cationic surfactants. ABP showed much greater b actericidal activities and antirusting effects than bensalkonium chlor ide (BAC). In this study, the fungicidal effects of ABP were evaluated in comparison with common disinfectants [BAC, chlorhexidime diglucona te (CHX) and alkyldiaminoethylglycine hydrochloride (ADE)]. Fungicidal effects were evaluated in 10 strains of 6 fungal species. namely. 3 C andida albicans, 2. Candida tropicalis, 1 Candida parapsilosis, 1 Aspe rgillus niger, 2 Aspergillus terreus, and 1 Trichophyton rubrum. ABP a nd BAC showed the same effects on 2 c. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, and similar effects on 3 C. albicans, with slight differences among t he strains. ABP showed quick fungicidal effects against A. niger and 2 A. terreus of moulds in 30 mins at 0.1% and in 15 min at 0.2 and 0.4% , but BAC showed slow effects against A. niger at 1 h and 2 A. terreus at 30 min at 0.2 and 0.4%, respectively. There is one factor which ma y have caused this difference: the former had a butyl phosphate anion and the latter had a chloride anion as a counter ion. BAC, CHX and ADE . needed 24 h to cause notable effects on A. niger at 0.1% and 1 h at 0.2%. the new synthetic anti-rust ABP is considered to have sufficient fungicidal effects that are comparable to those of BAC. CHX and ADE.