Bactericidal Effect of Electrodialysis across Ion Exchange Membranes

• Published in: Eisei kagaku Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 105 - 113
• Main Author: TANAKA, TATSUO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 1970
• ISSN: 0013-273X
• DOI: 10.1248/jhs1956.16.105

Effect of electrodialysis using ion-exchange membranes on the viability of bacteria was investigated. Overnight cultures in peptone water of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella heidelberg, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and suspension of Bacillus subtilis spores were passed through a chamber of the apparatus with ion-exchange membranes at a constant speed. Bactericidal effect of such electrodialysis was markedly influenced by the current density and by the velocity of flow of bacterial suspension passing through the chamber. Higher bactericidal effect was obtained at higher current density and lower velocity of flow. No viable bacterium was observed at current density of 1.53 A/dm2 and flow rate of 7 ml/min. Electron microscopic studies showed atrophy of the treated cells, and a distinct decrease of nitrogen and phosphorus contents was observed in the treated cells compared with that of the intact cells.