| abstract |
The invention relates to a method and composition for destroying or inhibiting proliferation of microbes using oxidative fluorinator compounds. Fluoride salts that do not dissociate completely in aqueous solutions, such as tri- or tetravalent transition metal fluorides, inert gas fluorides, or tri- or tetravalent rare earth fluorides, are effective antimicrobial agents even at levels up to about 20 ppm, when used alone or in conjunction with a strong oxidizer. |