Antimicrobial activities of hydrogen peroxide and its activation by a novel heterogeneous Fenton's-like modified PAN catalyst

Aims: To investigate the potential activation of hydrogen peroxide by a novel catalyst, reducing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide required and the time taken for microbial inactivation.

Methods and results: The antimicrobial properties of an iron-based novel heterogeneous polyacrylonitrile catalyst in combination with hydrogen peroxide were examined against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus using a modified version of the European suspension test. Antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis endospores was also investigated. Bactericidal activity was significantly increased when the polyacrylonitrile catalyst was combined with hydrogen peroxide. 0.2, 0.5 and 1% w/v hydrogen peroxide resulted in average log reductions of 4.76, 5.59 and 5.37 for E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa and Staph. aureus, respectively, after 60 min exposure at room temperature. The catalyst also significantly increased the activity of hydrogen peroxide against B. subtilis and B. cereus endospores.

Conclusions: These studies have demonstrated the potential biocidal use of the novel polyacrylonitrile catalyst when combined with hydrogen peroxide.

Significance and impact of the study: This is the first publication to demonstrate the enhanced activity gained using the novel heterogeneous catalyst to potentiate the activity of hydrogen peroxide as a biocide.