Why is chlorine dioxide the most ideal disinfectant in aquaculture?
Compared with commonly used oxygen-containing disinfectants, chlorine dioxide has the following advantages.
First, it is broad-spectrum, efficient and quick-acting. It can kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and even protozoa. The activity of chlorine dioxide (also known as oxidation ability) is 2.6 times that of chlorine and 3-4 times that of sodium hypochlorite.
Secondly, it has the advantages of small dosage, low toxicity, convenient use and high safety to aquatic animals. For example, the safe concentration of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) with an average body weight of 13.3 G is 3.2 mg/l; for shrimp seedlings with 1-1.5 cm is 10 times higher than the applied concentration, which is also safe within 24 hours; and for young turtles, the common concentration of 50 times is also safe within 24 hours. This is impossible for other commonly used disinfectants.
Thirdly, the duration of sterilization is about 10 times longer than that of chlorine.
Fourthly, the bactericidal effect is not affected by pH value (range 6-10), ammonia nitrogen and organic matter.
Fifthly, chlorine dioxide is an oxidant rather than a chlorinating agent, so there is no adverse reaction of chlorinating agent, that is, no odorous paracetamol is produced by reacting with phenols, and no carcinogenic trichloromethane is produced by reacting with organic substances.
As chlorine dioxide has the advantages mentioned above, it has been designated as Class A1 disinfectant by WHO. It is the most ideal disinfectant in aquaculture at present.
