The Electrocoagulator as a disinfection system
Disinfection is defined as the selective destruction of disease causing organisms (pathogens). Disease causing organisms (pathogens) of primary concern to humans, animals and the environment are bacteria, viruses and amoebic cysts. Bacteria and amoeba are single cell organisms belonging to the Kingdom Protista. A virus is the smallest biological structure containing all the information necessary for its own reproduction and being a parasite requires a host in which to live. The host infected by the viruses therefore classifies viruses.
Pathogens share a commonality in that the basic unit of life is the cell, which is composed of 80% water and 20% dry matter. The structure of the living cell is such that it consists of an outer cell wall that may be either a rigid or flexible membrane. Contained within the interior boundary of the cell membrane is a colloidal suspension of proteins, carbohydrates and other complex organic compounds called the cytoplasm. The cell membrane provides the semi-permeable boundary through which the osmotic interchange of water and nutrients necessary for life occurs.
Disinfection is commonly accomplished by the use of chemical agents, physical agents, mechanical means and radiation. The following four mechanisms of disinfection have been proposed to explain the action of disinfectants:
- Damage to the cell wall: Damage and/or destruction of the cell wall results in cell lysis and death.
- Alteration of cell permeability: Altering of the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane destroys the selective permeability of said membrane thus allowing vital nutrients required for life (nitrogen and phosphorus) to escape.
- Alteration of the colloidal nature of the protoplasm: Coagulation of the cell proteins that are in colloidal suspension within the cytoplasm is lethal
- Inhibition of enzyme activity: Enzymes are organic catalysts produced by living cells and are used to aid the transport of nutrients through the cell membrane and for synthesis and energy reactions within the cell. Oxidation processes alter the chemical arrangement of enzymes rendering them inactive, resulting in death.
The method and apparatus of Ecologix' process satisfy the requirements of the aforementioned mechanisms of disinfection. Specifically:
- The electromotive force present within the electrocoagulation apparatus disrupts the osmotic interchange through the cytoplasmic membrane and in so doing the differential pressure across said cytoplasmic membrane results in the implosion and/or explosion of the cell destroying the cell wall therefore resulting in cell lysis and death.
- The electromotive force present within the electrocoagulation apparatus disrupts the osmotic interchange through the cytoplasmic membrane destroying the selective permeability of said cytoplasmic membrane allowing the release of essential nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) resulting in death.
- Radiation (electromotive force and electron flooding) present within the electrocoagulation apparatus alters the colloidal nature of the protoplasm coagulating proteins and other matter in suspension within the cytoplasm therefore producing a lethal effect resulting in death.
- The oxidation reduction regime and oxygen and hydroxyl radicals available for reaction within the electrocoagulation apparatus alter the chemical arrangement of enzymes rendering said enzymes inactive resulting in death.
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