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Bactericidal Effect of Low Concentrations of Silver
Author(s) -
Chambers Cecil W.,
Proctor Charles M.,
Kabler Paul W.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1962.tb00834.x
Subject(s) - sodium thiosulfate , chemistry , sodium , silver chloride , phosphate , boiling , inorganic chemistry , ion , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , electrode
This article discusses experiments that found that the germicidal action of a specified amount of silver was related to the concentration of silver ions rather than to the physical nature of the silver from which the ions were originally derived. Neither the presence or absence of light nor the change in the density of test organisms within the range of 1,680 – 1,800,000 per milliliter produces a discernible effect on the bactericidal action of silver. Phosphate tends to decrease germicidal efficiency, whereas increases of pH accelerate death rates. Of the several neutralizers studied, a mixture of sodium thiosulfate and sodium thioglycollate was found to be most efficient. In the presence of inefficient neutralizers, bacteriostasis may be mistaken for bactericidal action. When silver‐contaminated glass is reused, some of the silver is desorbed and exerts a germicidal action. In these studies, boiling in sodium chloride solution was the most effective method of removing the silver from glassware. Radioactive Ag 110m is useful in determining silver concentrations in solution and the residual remaining on surfaces.