Aldehydes, biocidal properties

The biocidal properties of aldehydes have been applied in fields other than those related to medicine. In the poultry industry, glutaraldehyde has been used for the sterilization of poultry processing equipment and as a disinfectant in the immersion chilling of poultry [334, 335], In cosmetics, it has been recommended for disinfection of production equipment [336] and as a preservative [337]. Glutaraldehyde and formalin have also proved effective as fungicides in fish culture [338, 339], though glutaraldehyde was toxic at a concentration of 62 mg f [338]. 

A number of aldehydes possess antimicrobial properties, including sporicidal activity however, only two, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, are used for disinfection. Both these aldehydes are highly effective biocides and their use as chemosterilants reflect this. 

Formaldehyde [II, 1] and formaldehyde donors [II, 3.]. Aldehydes [II, 2.] in general are another group of biocidal actives, widely used in the past but less frequently encountered today. Mention has already been made about the advantageous property of the volatility of formaldehyde giving so-called headspace protection to closed containers. In addition formaldehyde has a rapid rate of kill and is extremely inexpensive. 

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