Open AccessPhotoelectrochemical sterilization of microbial cells by semiconductor powders
Author(s) -
Matsunaga Tadashi,
Tomoda Ryozo,
Nakajima Toshiaki,
Wake Hitoshi
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1985.tb00864.x
Subject(s) - sterilization (economics) , chemistry , lactobacillus acidophilus , platinum , halide , metal , microbiology and biotechnology , irradiation , bacteria , biochemistry , inorganic chemistry , probiotic , biology , catalysis , physics , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , monetary economics , economics , genetics , foreign exchange , foreign exchange market
We report the novel concept of photochemical sterilization. Microbial cells were killed photoelectrochemically with semiconductor powder (platinum‐loaded titanium oxide, TiO 2 /Pt). Coenzyme A, (CoA) in the whole cells was photo‐electrochemically oxidized and, as a result, the respiration of cells was inhibited. Inhibition of respiratory activity caused death of the cells. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli (10 3 cells/ml respectively) were completely sterilized when they were incubated with TiO 2 /Pt particles under metal halide lamp irradiation for 60–120 min.