Inactivation of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by electrochloration under bipolar pulsed polarization

This work is devoted to the biocides effects by electrochlorination under a pulsated bipolar polarization (PBP) of low potentials (− 1 V/cm to + 1.6 V/cm). Two working electrodes were used, one in platinum and the other in AISI 430 stainless steel, in two different electrolytes: sterilized distilled water and 0,9N sterilized NaCl solution, contaminated by E. Coli or by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. The inactivation of these bacteria was established under the action of three biocide treatments: E.F (Electric Field); the combination of E.F and Active Chlorine (A.C) and the combination of E.F, A.C and Ions in Solutions (I.S). The synergistic effect of these treatments leads to a high efficiency in disinfection. The results showed that the total inactivation of the E. Coli stain is reached in half a minute, while that of P. aeruginosa is reached in 20 min. The use of an economic stainless steel electrode allowed us to observe that, for pulsate frequencies higher than 10³ s^− 1, the formation of active chlorine increased whereas the corrosion speed decreased.