In recent years the consumer market for candles has grown dramatically, as candles of all shapes, sizes, colours and fragrances have been used increasingly in homes and restaurants to create atmosphere and enhance mood.
Now two researchers at the University of Southampton have taken the potential uses of fragranced candles one step further, by demonstrating that they can also have valuable and effective bactericidal properties.
The researchers, Dr Lindsey Gaunt and Sabrina Higgins, have discovered that adding essential oils to the candle can destroy bacteria such as Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus aureus on surfaces. Working with Professor John Hughes in the Bioelectrostatics Research Centre, Lindsey and Sabrina have been testing different essential oils, such as orange, thyme, and eucalyptus, which when dispersed into the air and combined with the ions produced in the candle flame, all have a powerful bactericidal effect.
Where candle use would not be appropriate, for example in a kitchen, the same bactericidal effect can be produced by using plug-in devices combining the appropriate essential oils and ions generated by an electrical discharge.
According to Lindsey Gaunt, the candles and electrical devices could be as effective as liquid disinfectants, together with the added benefit of being able to penetrate porous surfaces and fabrics in a room with very little personal effort.
This unique combination of essential oils and electrical ions has demonstrated a remarkably powerful bactericidal action, with up to nearly 100 per cent bacteria kill.
Lindsey Gaunt and Sabrina Higgins will be presenting the results of their research in Tokyo in November at the annual joint international conference of the Institute of Electrostatics Japan and the Electrostatics Society of America.
Joyce Lewis | Source: alphagalileo
Further information: www.epe.ecs.soton.ac.uk
More articles from Life Sciences:
First reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells
23.11.2009 | INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)
Causative gene of a rare disorder discovered by sequencing only protein-coding regions of genome
23.11.2009 | University of Washington
UCSB physicists move 1 step closer to quantum computing
23.11.2009 | Physics and Astronomy
Fat around the middle increases the risk of dementia
23.11.2009 | Studies and Analyses
New discovery about the formation of new brain cells
23.11.2009 | Health and Medicine
Multidisciplinary meeting on Urological Cancers aims to benefit cancer patients
20.11.2009 | Event News
'Golden Age' for clinical psychology in Northern Ireland
20.11.2009 | Event News
New Perspectives in Marine Anti-Fouling Research
11.11.2009 | Event News