Lime for sanitisation (hygienisation)

 

The purpose of using lime is pathogen destruction.  Pathogens are biological agents causing diseases or illness to their host.  They are categorised in three main groups : bacteria, viruses and parasites.

  

Lime enables the destruction of all pathogens by the pH effect that it brings (alkaline hydrolysis), combined with the temperature increase which quicklime hydration brings (thermolysis).

 

Alkaline hydrolyse (pH increase) : 

 

ð   Destruction of protein-based cellular walls and of enzymes

 

 

ð   Destruction of nucleic acids RNA

 

ð   Destruction of carbohydrate cell constituents and lipids

 

Thermolysis (temperature increase)

 

ð   Denaturing the enzymes

 

Temperature and enzyme activity

Bacterian enzyme