Microbicidal Action of Compounds Generated by Transient Electric Arcs in Aqueous Systems

Abstract

Submerged electrical discharges between copper-containing electrodes rendered the treated liquid microbicidal. Part of this activity was unstable and decreased rapidly during the first few minutes. It might have been caused by cuprous ions or substances with oxidative activity. The stable microbicidal activity was due to copper released from the electrodes. This copper existed only partly in ionic form. Inorganic salts and most organic substances tested decreased the bactericidal effect of discharge-treated water. Such substances also diminished the protracted killing effect which was observed when bacteria suspended in water of relatively high purity were subjected to transient electric arcs.

High-voltage pulse techniques for food preservation

“…The apparatus described in [12] was used in the mid-1960s by Edebo and Selin [13] as well as by Edebo et al [14] for further investigations into the influence of the electrode materials on cell destruction. When using copper and silver electrodes, the bacteriocidal effects were clearly stronger than with brass or tungsten.…”