Effect of several clay minerals and humic acid on the survival of Klebsiella aerogenes exposed to ultraviolet irradiation.

  • 1 May 1972
    • journal article
    • Vol. 23  (5) , 870-4
Abstract
The effect of various clay minerals and humic acid on the survival of Klebsiella aerogenes exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was investigated. A protective effect was observed and found to depend on the specific light absorption and light scattering properties of the clay minerals and the humic acid used. The higher the specific absorption, the better was the survival of K. aerogenes after UV irradiation. Bacterial survival was lower in clays saturated with divalent cations (Ca, Zn) than in those homoionic to monovalent cations (K).