Oscillating chemical reaction

Claim 1

A process of producing a disinfecting BZ reaction comprising continuously adding at a point in a system of continuously flowing water in which a reductant consisting of microbial life forms or their metabolic by-products is present, chlorine (Cl 2 ) or a Cl 2 releasing compound and iodine (I 2 ) or a I 2 releasing compound, the amount of I 2 present being in the range of about 0.02-0.15 mg/l of water, the I 2 being added before about 50% of the Cl 2 has been hydrolized, the amount of Cl 2 not exceeding 5.0 mg/l at the I 2 addition point, which hydrolize to create two bistable systems at equilibrium, the first bistable system consisting of Cl 2 HOCl, OCl and chloramines in the water, the total chloramine existing in the water or produced by reaction with microbial life or their metabolic by-products being present to an amount being less than 25% of the total HOCl, the second bistable system consisting of IO 3 , I 2 and HIO in the water, which bistable systems when perturbed by the reductant will initiate an oscillating reaction certain of whose intermediate products are microbicidal.