Killing bacteria using co2

"The availability of clean water is a major problem facing the world. In particular, the cost and destruction caused by viruses in water remains an unresolved challenge and poses a major limitation on the use of recycled water. Here, we develop an environmentally friendly technology for sterilising water. The technology bubbles heated un-pressurised carbon dioxide or exhaust gases through wastewater in a bubble column, effectively destroying both bacteria and viruses. The process is extremely cost effective, with no concerning by-products, and has already been successfully scaled-up industrially."

Adrian Garrido Sanchis 1, Richard Pashley 1 and Barry Ninham 2

1 School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Northcott Drive, Campbell, Canberra, ACT 2610, Australia and

2 Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physical Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Correspondence: Richard Pashley (r.pashley@adfa.edu.au)

"10.9 Concluding Remarks

Carbon Dioxide is the most powerful gas component in modified atmosphere packaging to inhibit microbial growth. Growth inhibition increases with increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and low temperature reinforces the growth -inhibitory effect."

Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Bacterial Growth Parameters in Milk as Measured by Conductivity

"Inhibition of bacterial growth by dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) has 

been well established in many foods including dairy foods."

"Dissolved CO2 reduced the microbial growth on all tested organisms"

J. D. Martin, B. G. Werner, and J. H. Hotchkiss

Department of Food Science,

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853

American Dairy Science Association,2003.

Addition of Carbon Dioxide to dairy products to improve quality: a comprehensive review.

"Over the last 4 decades several investigators have demonstrated that adding CO2 to the atmosphere surrounding a product reduces the rate of growth of many food spoilage and pathogenic micro-organisms"

"Additional research can increase the efficiency of the process and contribute to a better understanding of the fundamental basis of the biostatic action of CO2"

Joseph H.Hotchkiss, Brenda G.Werner, and Edmund Y.C.Lee

Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety

Carbon Dioxide as a Microbial Toxicity Enhancer of Some Antibacterial Agents: A New Potential Water Purification Tool.

"Ten-minute preincubation in CO2-enriched medium enhanced the toxic effect of both H2O2 or/and Ca(ClO)2 on bacteria as a result of induced growth inhibition, compared to no CO2 enriched group."

Varsik Martirosyan 1, Karlen Hovnanyan 2 and Sinerik Ayrapetyan 1

1 Department of Biotechnology, Life Sciences International Postgraduate Educational Center, 31 Acharyan Street,

0040 Yerevan, Armenia

2 Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Institute of Molecular Biology, 7 Hasratian Street, 0014 Yerevan, Armenia