Granular polymers with immobilized N-chlorosulfonamide groups as alternative water disinfectants

In light of the deterioration of microbiological composition of natural and technical water, the development of new approaches to its disinfection is an important technological task. The use of chlorine-active compounds remains the most effective for this purpose, but traditional preparations such as sodium hypochlorite pose a number of environmental risks. This paper describes the processes of treating model microbiologically contaminated solutions with granular styrene-divinylbenzene polymers with immobilized N-chlorosulfonamide groups. In this case, chlorine is released from the polymer surface into the solution due to chlorination of the amine components of the microbial cell. The amount of chlorine released is proportional to the degree of microbial contamination. The main factors influencing the disinfection rate and the characteristics of the chlorine emission process are the intensity of stirring, the type and concentration of the microorganism, and the surface area of the polymer. The treatment is effective against individual Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multi-resistant ones, fungi, and multi-culture natural media. The use of this method for water disinfection potentially allows avoiding chlorine overdose, minimizing the formation of toxic chlorine-containing by-products, and ensuring long-term protection of water from re-contamination during storage.