Synthesis and study of antibacterial effects of Pentanedial (Glutaraldehyde)

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Pentanedial (Glutaraldehyde) is a chemical compound with strong antimicrobial activity which is used as a disinfectant and sterilant agent in operation rooms and laboratories. In this research a novel and simple synthesis of glutaraldehyde was developed and its antimicrobial effects were investigated. Its efficiency was very close to that of commercial ones. The antimicrobial activity of glutaraldehyde was examined in both acidic and alkaline conditions. The results have shown that the 2% alkaline solution of glutaraldehye kills the growth of bacteria (E. coli, S. typhi, S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus) less than a minute, kills viruses (Pollio I, II, III and Herpes simplex), fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) in less than 10 minutes, and kills bacteria spores (B. subtilis and B. anthracis) in about 7 hours. It was also found that the antimicrobial activity of glutaraldehye in alkaline solution is more effective than in acidic solution, but the alkaline solution lost its activity after two weeks. We also found that addition of divalent ions such as Mg2+ to the solution increased the sporocidal activity of glutaraldehyde and reduced the sporocidal time to 3 hours. However, the addition of phenol and sodium phenoxide to the solution not only increased the sporocidal activity of glutaraldehyde and reduced the sporocidal time to 3 hours, but it increased the stability of glutaraldehyde solution to 30 days as well.

Glutaraldehyde; pentanedial; antibacterial; antimicrobial; disinfectant; sterilant