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Mechanism of Action of Phenolic Disinfectants VI

1965; Elsevier BV; Volume: 54; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/jps.2600541007

1520-6017

Henry Steele Commager, Joseph Judis,

Water Quality Monitoring and Analysis

A representative group of phenols was examined as to effects on aerobic and anaerobic utilization of glucose and aerobic utilization of sodium succinate. At low concentrations, p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, p-chloro-o-cresol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol stimulated oxygen uptake with glucose as the substrate; phenol and p-chloro-m-xylenol were inhibitory, and p-tert-amylphenol had no measurable effect. At the higher concentrations used, all compounds except 2,4-dinitrophenol were inhibitory. Anaerobic metabolism of glucose was inhibited by concentrations of the compounds tested similar to those inhibiting glucose oxidation. Oxidation of sodium succinate was stimulated by low concentrations of p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, p-chloro-o-cresol, dichloro-m-xylenol, and p-tert-amylphenol. All compounds were inhibitory at higher concentrations. In general, sodium succinate oxidation was the most sensitive to phenolics, and glucose oxidation the least sensitive. There was some correlation between phenol coefficients and inhibition of glucose and succinate metabolism. It is hypothesized that the lethal action of phenolic disinfectants is due to damage of permeability mechanisms, the repair of which is prevented by concomitant inhibition of energy-yielding metabolic reactions. A representative group of phenols was examined as to effects on aerobic and anaerobic utilization of glucose and aerobic utilization of sodium succinate. At low concentrations, p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, p-chloro-o-cresol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol stimulated oxygen uptake with glucose as the substrate; phenol and p-chloro-m-xylenol were inhibitory, and p-tert-amylphenol had no measurable effect. At the higher concentrations used, all compounds except 2,4-dinitrophenol were inhibitory. Anaerobic metabolism of glucose was inhibited by concentrations of the compounds tested similar to those inhibiting glucose oxidation. Oxidation of sodium succinate was stimulated by low concentrations of p-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, p-chloro-o-cresol, dichloro-m-xylenol, and p-tert-amylphenol. All compounds were inhibitory at higher concentrations. In general, sodium succinate oxidation was the most sensitive to phenolics, and glucose oxidation the least sensitive. There was some correlation between phenol coefficients and inhibition of glucose and succinate metabolism. It is hypothesized that the lethal action of phenolic disinfectants is due to damage of permeability mechanisms, the repair of which is prevented by concomitant inhibition of energy-yielding metabolic reactions.