CHEMICAL METHOD OF STERILIZATION (DISINFECTION) · Disinfection is the process of killing of many microorganisms, but not all microorganisms. · Disinfection is the chemical method of sterilization. · Chemicals used for Disinfection are called as Disinfectants. (a) DISRUPTION OF CELL MEMBRANE i) Alcohols · Ethanol is widely used to clean the skin before immunization or venipuncture. · It acts mainly by disorganizing the lipid structure in membranes, but it denatures proteins as well. · Ethanol requires the presence of water for maximal activity; i.e., it is far more effective at 70 % than at 100 %. Seventy percent ethanol is often used as an antiseptic to clean the skin prior to venipuncture. ii) Detergents · Detergents are "surface-ac...