Direct Electric Current Treatment under Physiologic Saline Conditions Kills Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms via Electrolytic Generation of Hypochlorous Acid
Figure 4
Chlorine generation and pH changes with electric current in the absence of biofilm.
(A) Free chlorine was measured at each electrode after 24 hours of current when the direct current exposures were repeated without sources of chlorine demand (biofilm and organics in the medium). These “endpoint free chlorine concentrations” approximate the cumulative chlorine generated over the course of treatment without reaction. (B) The free chlorine differences between electrodes (cathode minus anode) in each well indicated a trend of higher free chlorine concentrations at the cathode as indicated by positive values. (C) pH measurements were taken at each electrode after direct current was applied for 24 hours to the standard treatment solution (with organics). Symbols indicate individual measurements and lines (A) show linear mixed effects models.