| abstract |
Glutaraldehyde is a useful anti-microbial agent, but is dangerous and unpleasant to handle and is thermally unstable. Despite these disadvantages, it is specified for use against bacteria in cooling towers of air conditioning plants of buildings and to control anaerobic sulphate-reducing bacteria in oil wells. The invention provides the bisulphite addition complex of an aldehyde or di-aldehyde, for use as an anti-microbial agent. The complex is less toxic than free glutaraldehyde. In cooling towers it slowly oxidises to the free di-aldehyde. In oil wells, its digestion by the sulphate-reducing bacteria releases the free di-aldehyde which controls the bacteria. In these ways, a more economic and environmentally safer use of anti-microbial additives is likely. |