Comparative Characterization on Bacterial Disinfection Using Trichloroisocyanuric Acid, Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin, and Calcium Hypochlorite

The disinfection effects of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TICA), calcium hypochlorite (CH), and Bromochlorodimethylhydantoin (BCDMH) on various bacteria in aqueous suspension were comparatively characterized at various concentrations and exposure times of each disinfectant. When various bacteria cells () including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Legionella pneumophila, and Staphylococcus aureus were exposed with a solution containing 8 ppm each of TICA, a 99% of the initial cells were killed in 60 sec, 368 sec, 372 sec, 506 sec, 812 sec, and 909 sec, respectively. In addition, the minimum exposure time required to kill 99% of E. coli () with 8 ppm of each TICA, BCDMH and CH was measured at 60 sec, 114 sec, and 7,100 sec, respectively. These comparative studies demonstrate that disinfection efficacy is highly variable depending on microbial species as well as disinfectant type, concentration, and exposure time.