Bactericidal Effects of Titanium Dioxide.

Abstract

Titanium dioxide in its crystalline form functions as photocatalyst. Surfaces of solids treated by titanium dioxide emit oxygen free radicals into their environment when illuminated by an appropriate wavelength of visible light. Their bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects disinfect the surfaces without the necessity to use any chemical agents. Surface application of the protective layer thus should ensure sanitation without the addition of disinfectants. Also any poorly accessible nooks and crannies in food processing machinery can be biologically cleaned by a mere illumination by an incandescent lamp if the surfaces are pretreated with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is firmly bound in the surface layer and is not released into the environment. Its use does not entail the risk of insufficient removal of residual amounts of sanitation agents. The products or intermediate products are not directly exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The efficiency of the treatment is comparable with that of conventional cleaning agents and disinfectants. The starting capital investment is higher, but it significantly minimizes the subsequent operating expenses of disinfection of the premises. The biological efficiency of surfaces with crystalline titanium dioxide was tested in the microbiological laboratory of the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, PLC.Titanium dioxide in its crystalline form functions as photocatalyst. Surfaces of solids treated by titanium dioxide emit oxygen free radicals into their environment when illuminated by an appropriate wavelength of visible light. Their bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects disinfect the surfaces without the necessity to use any chemical agents. Surface application of the protective layer thus should ensure sanitation without the addition of disinfectants. Also any poorly accessible nooks and crannies in food processing machinery can be biologically cleaned by a mere illumination by an incandescent lamp if the surfaces are pretreated with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is firmly bound in the surface layer and is not released into the environment. Its use does not entail the risk of insufficient removal of residual amounts of sanitation agents. The products or intermediate products are not directly exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The efficiency of the treatment is comparable with that of conventional cleaning agents and disinfectants. The starting capital investment is higher, but it significantly minimizes the subsequent operating expenses of disinfection of the premises. The biological efficiency of surfaces with crystalline titanium dioxide was tested in the microbiological laboratory of the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, PLC.

Keywords

• titanium dioxide
• disinfection
• photo-catalysis
• bactericidal effect