Physical and Chemical

Control of Microbes

Engr. Vera Marie L. Lanaria

ChE Department
CIT University
Why is microbial control necessary?

It is mainly to inhibit the growth of

pathogens.
 Sterilization
• it refers to the removal or destruction of all
microbes, including viruses and bacterial
endospores, in or on an object

• is an absolute term that implies the

complete and total removal of all living
things
 Aseptic
• it describes an environment or procedure
that is free of contamination by pathogens

• Ex. vegetables & fruit juices are available

in aseptic packaging; surgeons & lab
technicians use aseptic techniques to
avoid contamination while doing their job
 Disinfection
• it refers to the use of
physical or chemical
agents known as
disinfectants
• this term is used only
for treatment of
inanimate objects
Antisepsis
• refers to a process of
using chemical or
antimicrobial agent on
skin or other tissue
• the chemical agent is
called antiseptic
 Degerming
• is the removal of microbes from a surface
by scrubbing
 Sanitizing
• is the process of disinfecting places and
utensils used by the public to reduce the
number of pathogenic microbes to meet
accepted public health standards
 Pasteurization
• is the use of heat to kill pathogens and
reduce the number of spoilage
microorganisms in food and beverages
 What is microbial death?
Death – is a phenomenon that involves the
permanent termination of an
organism’s vital processes
 Factors that affect Death Rate
1) Number of microorganisms.
2) Nature of microorganisms.
3) Temperature & pH of the environment.
4) Concentration of the agent.
5) Mode of action of the agent.
6) Presence of solvents, interfering organic
matter, and inhibitors.
 How Antimicrobial Agents Work?
The cellular targets of physical & chemical
agents fall into 4 general categories:
1. the cell wall
2. the cell membrane
3. cellular synthetic processes (DNA, RNA)
4. proteins
 Methods of Physical Control
 Heat
 Radiation
 Filtration
 Ultrasonic waves
 Cold
 HEAT
Moist Heat:
- hot water, boiling water, steam
(vaporized water)
- temperature ranges from 60-135 0C
Dry Heat:
- that has been heated by a flame or
electric heating coil
- temperature ranges from 1600C up
 What is the effect on
microorganisms when moist heat is
used as compared to dry heat?
Moist heat generally coagulates and causes
denaturation in microbes. In denaturation,
proteins separate as an insoluble mass as
they revert from their 3-dimensional
structure to a 2-dimensional structure.
In dry heat, the primary effect is due to
oxidation of large molecules; is a less
efficient process which requires a longer
period of process time
 COLD
“Cold merely retards the activities of most
microbes.”

Lyophilization – a combination of freezing and

drying; a common method of preserving
microorganisms and other cells
 Radiation
Types of radiation that can be used as anti-
microbial control agents:
1) Ionizing radiation – include x-rays and
gamma rays, which form free radicals in
cytoplasm and the free radicals destroy
microbial proteins and DNA
2) Ultraviolet radiation – will effect nucleic acids
by binding together adjacent thymine bases;
microbes will die because DNA cannot
function or replicate itself
 Ultrasonic waves
These high-frequency sound waves causes
vibrations that coagulate cellular proteins
and disintegrate cellular components.

Ultrasonic vibrations are commonly used as

cleaning agent for lab materials and as a
cell disrupters.
 Filtration
Modern microbial filters: cellulose acetate;
polycarbonate; plastic materials (teflon &
nylon) where pores size can vary from
coarse (8 microns) to ultrafine (0.02 micron)
 Applications of Filtration
use to prepare liquids that cannot withstand
heat, including serum & other blood products,
vaccines, drugs, IV fluids, enzymes, and
media
use for decontaminating milk & beer without
altering their flavor
used in water purification
used in removing airborne contaminants that
are common source of infection & spoilage
 Chemical Agents
Gases that can perform sterilization:
• ethylene oxide (ETO) is used to sterile
plastics (such as petri dishes)
• beta propiolactone (BPL) is used to sterile
liquids
• formaldehyde can be used for various
materials
 Qualities in choosing antimicrobial
chemical agents:
 rapid action even in low concentration
 solubility in water or alcohol and long-term stability
 broad-spectrum microbicidal action without being
toxic to human and animal tissues
 penetration of inanimate surfaces to sustain a
cumulative or persistent action
 resistance to becoming inactivated by organic
matter
 noncorrosive or nonstaining properties
 sanitizing and deodorizing properties
 affordability and ready availability
Thank you !