Effectiveness of Biocides

Biocide effectiveness against bacteria, fungi and algae with information on oxidizing and non-oxidizing biocides, their pH ranges, and applications.

Biocide Type	Biocide Name	Bacteria	Fungi	Algae	pH Range	Notes
Oxidizing	Chlorine (Cl2)	Excellent	Good	Good	5-8	Powerful oxidant used in bleaching, disinfectants, and swimming pool maintenance
Oxidizing	Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2)	Excellent	Good	Good	Insensitive	Potent oxidizing agent used in water treatment and bleaching
Oxidizing	Bromine	Excellent	Good	Poor	5-10	Used in swimming pool maintenance, water purification, disinfectants, and insecticides
Oxidizing	Ozone	Excellent	Good	Good	7-9	Used for laundry disinfection, water treatment, air deodorization, and pool sanitization
Non-Oxidizing	Carbamate	Excellent	Poor	Poor	5-9	Used in insecticides
Non-Oxidizing	Organobromide (DBNPA)	Excellent	Poor	Poor	6-8.5	Effective fumigant
Non-Oxidizing	Methylene bis(thiocyanate) (MBT)	Excellent	Poor	Poor	Below 8	Used as microbiocide/microbiostat, fungicide/fungistat, algicide, and disinfectant
Non-Oxidizing	Isothiazoline	Excellent	Good	Good	Insensitive	General purpose biocide
Non-Oxidizing	Triazine	No control	No control	Excellent	6-9	Often used as basis for herbicides