Mycobactericidal activity of hydrogen peroxide activated by a novel heterogeneous Fentons-like catalyst system.

To investigate the potential activation of hydrogen peroxide by a novel catalyst, reducing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide required and the time taken for mycobactericidal activity. The mycobactericidal properties of an iron-based novel heterogeneous-modified polyacrylonitrile (PAN) catalyst in combination with hydrogen peroxide were examined against Mycobacterium chelonae using a modified version of the European suspension test. Mycobactericidal activity was significantly increased when the modified PAN catalyst was combined with hydrogen peroxide. The 0·5% w/v hydrogen peroxide and 2-g catalyst system resulted in average Log reductions of >5·80 for Myco. chelonae at 30-min exposure at room temperature. This was a significant increase in activity (P < 0·01) compared to 0·5% w/v hydrogen peroxide alone. This study has expanded on previous work and knowledge of the modified PAN catalyst and hydrogen peroxide system, by providing evidence for mycobactericidal activity when the novel PAN catalyst is combined with hydrogen peroxide.