M. Betz et G. Cerny, Antimicrobial effects of bleaching agents Part 1: Studies on Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 and Enterococcus faecium ATCC 6057, TENSIDE SUR, 37(4), 2000, pp. 230-235
In low temperature washing processes (i.e. <40<degrees>C) inactivation of m
icroorganisms cannot be achieved solely by temperature effects as in 60 deg
reesC-processes. Many detergents, however, contain bleaching systems which
inactivate microorganisms by oxidation thus resulting in adequate hygiene e
ven at lower temperatures.
In this study the bacterial efficacy of bleaching agents (sodium perborate
monohydrate, sodium percarbonate) and a bleaching activator (TAED) was exam
ined using the standard suspension test method with selected bacteria (Entc
. faecium, E, coli). The effect of pH on the biocidal efficiency of bleachi
ng agents was also tested.
The results showed that bleaching agents in concentrations as used in deter
gents can significantly contribute to the inactivation of faecal bacteria e
ven at low temperatures and that the efficacy of the bleaching agents is co
nsiderably affected by other parameters such as pH-conditions and soiling.