Oxidizing disinfectants are generally strong oxidizing agents. They utilize the hypochlorous acid and atomic oxygen they produce to oxidize enzymes closely related to metabolism within microorganisms, thereby killing them.
Oxidizing disinfectants kill bacteria through oxidation mechanisms. These disinfectants are generally inorganic compounds, such as chlorine, hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide. Chlorine is the most commonly used due to its strong bactericidal power, readily available raw materials, and ease of use. Another inorganic compound, chlorine dioxide, is a strong oxidizing agent with 2.6 times stronger oxidizing power than chlorine. When used as a disinfectant in cooling water, it offers advantages over chlorine, including lower dosage, faster action, better effect, insensitivity to pH, and non-reaction with ammonia.
