Chiller Plant Biocide

Chlorine Dioxide in Seafood Treatment

Aqueous chlorine is widely used in seafood processing to control microbial growth. However, its bactericidal activity decreases in alkaline conditions and/or at high levels of organic matter. Owing to health concerns regarding the trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, chloroform, chlorophenols, and other chlorination reaction products generated during interactions of organics with aqueous chlorine, efforts have been made to identify viable alternatives to its use.

Chlorine Dioxide

Chlorine dioxide is one of the most promising substitutes for chlorine. It is a strong oxidant that could be applied in a variety of seafood processes. An excellent sanitizer, chlorine dioxide has been shown to be seven times more potent than aqueous chlorine in killing bacteria and viruses in some applications. Furthermore, fewer potentially toxic reaction products result from treatment of organic matter with chlorine dioxide.

Since the bactericidal activity of chlorine dioxide is not affected by alkaline conditions and/or high levels of organic matter, it maintains bactericidal action far longer than chlorine. Chlorine dioxide is less
reactive than aqueous chlorine in interactions with organic compounds such as unsaturated fatty acids, their methyl esters, and tryptophan and its derivatives. Consequently, fewer potentially toxic/mutagenic reaction products are formed.