Anodes and Endoscopes
The January 2007 edition of the Salt Science Research Foundation Report contains a fascinating article on the ability of electrolysis water to kill pathogenic bacteria. Researchers found that the acidic water produced around the anode of a salt water electrolysis system has sterilizing properties which have since been put to use preventing hospital infections. A prototype piece of equipment has been put to use for the sterilization of endoscopes prior to their use in endoscopic procedures. In fact, researchers have optimized the process by first washing the equipment with the alkaline electrolysis water from the cathode side and immediately following this within a rinse from the anode side. What is really produced at the anode side is hypochlorite, but it appears to be much more active than the equivalent levels of hypochlorite produced by conventional means. Researchers are currently evaluating the long-term practicality of this system.
