New Disinfection Agents for Water

Halamine water disinfectants

“…U2 The organic halamine 3-chloro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone (compound I) was found in the laboratories of the authors to react with sulfhydryl-containing enzymes in in vitro reactions 115116 and to preferentially inhibit DNA synthesis of E. coli 115 and S. aureus. 52 In addition to DNA synthesis, RNA and protein syntheses were also inhibited by the oxazolidinone, but at higher concentrations of disinfectant.…”

“…43 The dirrethyl derivative is much more stable in water than the parent compound and is a useful bactéricide for applications requiring low solubility. 52 Both compounds are, in fact, only sparingly soluble in water. 45 -52 …”

“…52 Both compounds are quite bactericidal, a fact not surprising given that there is a considerable amount of free chlorine liberated as the compounds dissolve. The tetrachloroglycoluril was found to be equivalent to calcium hypochlorite in bactericidal efficacy in the authors' laboratory and TCDMG was found to be only slightly less bactericidal (Table 4).…”

“…The solubility of the material in water ranges from 760 mg/100 mt at 4°C to 1713 mg/100 m£ at 32°C. 52 The pH of unbuffered water containing the material at 10 mg/€ of total chlorine concentration is 5.2. The compound imparts no color, odor, or taste to water.…”

“…The compound crystallizes as a pale yellow crystalline solid which melts in the range of 118 to 120°C;" its solubility in water ranges between 310 mg/100 m€ at 4°C to 786 mg/100 m€ at 32°C. 52 Recent work in the laboratories of the authors has compared the disinfection efficacies and stabilities in water as a function of pH, temperature, and water quality of compound IB with those of compound I. 32110 " 2 It can generally be stated that compound IB kills organisms more efficaciously than does compound I, but that the former is considerably less stable in water than in the latter, particularly at higher temperature or in the presence of organic load.…”