Which process is used to kill most microorganisms on surfaces?

The process that is used to kill most microorganisms on surfaces is disinfection. Disinfection involves the application of chemical agents or physical processes to eliminate a significant number of pathogenic organisms, effectively reducing the microbial load on non-living surfaces. This method is crucial in various settings, including hospitals and laboratories, where it is important to maintain sterile environments and minimize the risks associated with infection.

While sanitation, sterilization, and decontamination each play roles in microbiological control, they differ in their scope and application. Sanitization refers to reducing microbial numbers to a safe level, often using cleaning agents that may not necessarily kill all types of microorganisms. Sterilization is a more extreme process aimed at completely eliminating all forms of microbial life, including spores, and is typically more resource-intensive than disinfection. Decontamination encompasses processes that remove or neutralize contaminants but does not specifically imply the killing of microorganisms, making it broader than disinfection alone.

Thus, disinfection stands out as the correct process for effectively killing most microorganisms on surfaces, meeting the key criteria for microbial control in many environments.