Method for the microbial disinfection of a water-based dispersion with liquid and/or solid ingredients, comprising: a. providing at least two electrodes, which are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the dispersion can be guided in between them or through them; b. guiding the dispersion in between or through the electrodes; and c. imposing on the electrodes a preselectable electrical potential difference in such a way that a sequence of at least two electrical high-voltage pulse half-waves of opposing polarity is formed between the electrodes by the dispersion, wherein: i. the high-voltage pulse half-waves can be adjusted over the potential difference in each case by means of preselectable pulse shapes, pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and repetition frequency, ii. the pulse duration is selected in a range from 200 ns to 10 μs, and the pulse amplitude in a range from 10 kV . cm -1 to 100 kV . cm -1 , and the repetition frequency in a range from 1 Hz to 100 Hz, iii. The high-voltage pulse half-waves in the sequence are formed in such a way that the deviation between the sum total of the positive and negative part loads amounts to a maximum of 10% in relation to the respective greater part load value of positive and negative part loads, and iv. the time interval between two high-voltage pulse half-waves amounts at the most to 10 times the duration of the first high-voltage pulse half-wave. a. providing at least two electrodes, which are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the dispersion can be guided in between them or through them; b. guiding the dispersion in between or through the electrodes; and c. imposing on the electrodes a preselectable electrical potential difference in such a way that a sequence of at least two electrical high-voltage pulse half-waves of opposing polarity is formed between the electrodes by the dispersion, wherein: i. the high-voltage pulse half-waves can be adjusted over the potential difference in each case by means of preselectable pulse shapes, pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and repetition frequency, ii. the pulse duration is selected in a range from 200 ns to 10 μs, and the pulse amplitude in a range from 10 kV . cm -1 to 100 kV . cm -1 , and the repetition frequency in a range from 1 Hz to 100 Hz, iii. The high-voltage pulse half-waves in the sequence are formed in such a way that the deviation between the sum total of the positive and negative part loads amounts to a maximum of 10% in relation to the respective greater part load value of positive and negative part loads, and iv. the time interval between two high-voltage pulse half-waves amounts at the most to 10 times the duration of the first high-voltage pulse half-wave. i. the high-voltage pulse half-waves can be adjusted over the potential difference in each case by means of preselectable pulse shapes, pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and repetition frequency, ii. the pulse duration is selected in a range from 200 ns to 10 μs, and the pulse amplitude in a range from 10 kV . cm -1 to 100 kV . cm -1 , and the repetition frequency in a range from 1 Hz to 100 Hz, iii. The high-voltage pulse half-waves in the sequence are formed in such a way that the deviation between the sum total of the positive and negative part loads amounts to a maximum of 10% in relation to the respective greater part load value of positive and negative part loads, and iv. the time interval between two high-voltage pulse half-waves amounts at the most to 10 times the duration of the first high-voltage pulse half-wave. <EOS>