NOVEL N-HALAMINE DISINFECTANT COMPOUNDS

A new series of N-halamine compounds has been synthesized and tested for stability in aqueous solution and efficacy in inactivating several species of bacteria and algae. The compounds, which are N,N'-dihalo-4-imidazolidinones, are inexpensive to synthesize and appear to have considerable potential as general-purpose disinfectants. They have greater stability in the laboratory, as well as outdoors in direct sunlight, than do current commercial swimming pool biocides. They also are efficient at sterilizing hard surfaces (stainless steel) and could thus be useful for a variety of household and medical disinfection applications.