Emergence of the Science and Technology of Electroactivated Aqueous Solutions: Applications for Environmental and Food Safety

Although the first attempts to apply electrolyzed aqueous solutions for water disinfection were performed in Russia in the late nineteenth century, the deficiencies in construction of electrolyzers and stability of electrodes did not allow for their broad practical use. The developments in technology and design led to applications of electrolyzed aqueous solutions in the former USSR starting from the 1960s. At present, this technology is being developed in numerous countries around the world. It is reflected in an increased number of publications in peer-reviewed journals and other information sources. Moreover, a number of companies were established to pursue commercialization of the technology. The possibility of their use as power disinfectants of potable water and swimming pools, bactericidal agents for disinfection and sterilization of living tissues, materials, medical and food processing equipment, etc. have been demonstrated in various trials. However, the broader application of the technology is hindered by the lack of profound theoretical and experimental studies of production of electroactivated aqueous solutions and the mechanisms of their activity. In particular, the interrelation between technological and constructional characteristics of the apparatus and functional properties of produced solutions is most poorly understood. We offer an array of figures-of-merit allowing a fair comparison between the electrolyzers of different design.