Biocides and their types

Introduction

Biocides are chemical compounds or natural substances that are used to kill, inhibit, or prevent the growth of living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, insects, and other organisms. These substances are used in various industries, including agriculture, public health, the pharmaceutical industry, refineries, and the environment. Biocides are used to control microbial contamination, improve health conditions, and prevent damage caused by the growth of pests and microorganisms. One of the important issues in the use of biocides is the duration of their effect and the factors that can affect this duration.

This article provides a comprehensive review of biocides, their types, mechanisms of action, factors affecting the duration of effect, applications, and challenges in the use of biocides.

Definition of Biocide

Biocides are compounds that are used to control or destroy living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, algae, insects, and other microscopic organisms. These compounds may be chemical or natural and are commonly used in various industries to prevent contamination, control diseases, or protect materials and products.

Different Types of Biocides

Biocides are divided into different types, the most important of which are:

1. Antibacterial biocides
2. Antifungal biocides
3. Antiviral biocides
4. Pesticide biocides

Antibacterial:

These compounds are used to fight bacteria and prevent their growth in various environments. Antibacterial can be used in disinfectants, hand and surface disinfectants, food and medicines.

Antifungals:

These substances are used to destroy or inhibit the growth of fungi, especially in agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry and the health industry. Antifungals are used to control plant diseases and also to prevent fungal infections in humans and animals.

Antivirals:

These compounds are used to kill or inhibit the growth of viruses. Antivirals are used to disinfect surfaces contaminated with viruses and also to treat some diseases.

Pesticides:

This class of biocides is used to kill or control plant and animal pests in agriculture and horticulture. There are different types of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, and rodenticides.

Mechanisms of action of biocides

Biocides usually kill or stop the growth of organisms by making changes in their cell structure or biochemical processes. The most important mechanisms of action of biocides are:

Cell membrane destruction:Many biocides damage the cell membrane of living organisms, causing the release of cellular contents and ultimately cell death.

Inhibition of protein or DNA synthesis:Some biocides, especially antibacterials, act by inhibiting synthetic processes such as protein and DNA synthesis in target cells.

Inhibition of energy metabolism:Some other biocides cause the death of organisms by disrupting the energy metabolism processes of cells, such as respiratory processes.

Factors affecting the duration of biocidal effects

The length of time a biocide takes to exert its effect on the target organism depends significantly on various factors. These factors include:

1. Type of organism
2. Concentration of biocide
3. Contact time
4. Environmental conditions
5. Presence of organic and inorganic materials

Type of target organism

Each organism has a different sensitivity to biocides. For example, bacteria may respond more quickly to biocides than fungi or viruses. Also, some organisms may be resistant to biocides.

Biocide concentration

Higher concentrations of biocides usually reduce the duration of action. At the same time, high concentrations may cause environmental toxicity or harm to beneficial organisms.

Contact time

The length of time that the biocide is in contact with the surface or target organisms has a significant impact on its effectiveness. If the contact time is short, the biocide is likely to be less effective.

Environmental conditions

Environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and humidity can have a significant impact on the length of time it takes for biocides to take effect. For example, at lower temperatures, the effectiveness of biocides is reduced.

Presence of organic and inorganic materials

The presence of organic and inorganic materials in the environment can affect the performance of biocides. For example, organic materials such as soil, grease or proteins may bind to the biocide and reduce its effectiveness.

Use of Biocides in Various Industries

Biocides have many applications in various industries, as follows:

1. Agricultural industries
2. Health industry
3. Pharmaceutical industry
4. Refining industries

Agricultural industry

Biocides are used in agriculture to control plant pests and diseases, as well as to improve plant health. These compounds can effectively stop the growth of pests and fungi.

Health industry

In this industry, biocides are used, especially in disinfectants and surface cleaners, to control microbial contamination and prevent the transmission of diseases.

Pharmaceutical industry

In the pharmaceutical industry, biocides are used to prevent the growth of microorganisms in drugs, vaccines, and other products. These compounds play an important role in maintaining the quality of pharmaceutical products.

Refining industries

In these industries, biocides are used to prevent the growth of microorganisms in water and wastewater systems, as well as in oil and gas refining.

Challenges and Problems of Using Biocides

Resistance Development

One of the major problems in using biocides is the development of resistance to them by microorganisms. This resistance can significantly increase the duration of biocides' effectiveness.

Environmental Pollution

Biocides may harm the environment. Some of these compounds may enter water, soil, or air sources and negatively affect the ecosystem.

Toxicity to Humans and Animals

Some biocides may be toxic to humans or animals. Therefore, the use of these compounds requires caution and compliance with safety guidelines.

Conclusion

Biocides are effective compounds that are used in various industries to control pollution, prevent diseases, and protect crops. However, the duration of effectiveness of these compounds is affected by various factors and requires further research to optimize the use of biocides in different conditions. Also, challenges such as microbial resistance, environmental pollution, and health problems should be considered in the use of these compounds.

Some of the biocide and bio dispersant solutions produced by Abrizan Company are introduced below:

1. Biocide solution specifically for R.O. devices
2. Isothiazoline-based biocide solution
3. Glutaraldehyde-based biocide solution
4. Ammonium salt-based biocide solution
5. Types of oxidizing biocides
6. Non-oxidizing biocides with a special combination base for polluted waters with a lot of algae
7. Special biodispersants for disintegrating microbial colonies

Also, special biocides for the desalination unit produced by Abrizan Company are introduced:

1. Isothiazoline-based biocide solutions
2. Glutaraldehyde-based biocide solutions
3. Ammonium salt-based biocides
4. Specialized biocides with a combination base

Conducting an experiment to examine the performance of three biocides produced by Abrizan Company

During an experiment conducted at the site of the Petrochemical Research and Technology Company in the Mahshahr Special Economic Zone The study and comparison of the effective control of the growth of microorganisms and algae in the DM water environment of the cooling tower was carried out using the performance of three anti-biofouling solutions (Biocide 0096, Biocide 0085, and Biocide 0083 produced by Abrizan Company). Biocide 0096 resulted in the control of the growth and removal of algae and the removal of almost 100% of aerobic bacteria, which showed its efficiency and effect in the control of the growth of these microorganisms well. We also observed low toxicity and biocompatibility for Biocide 0083 and a 99.9% reduction in sulfate-reducing bacteria for Biocide 0085.