Efficient bacteria inactivation by ligand-induced continuous generation of hydroxyl radicals in Fenton-like reaction

Fenton/Fenton-like reaction is often used as an efficient method to generate hydroxyl radicals (HO ) for bacteria inactivation in aqueous solution. However, inactivation efficiency of bacteria in aqueous solution using Fenton/Fenton-like reactions needs to further improve as a result of transient generation of HO . In this paper, we found that the formation of Tris-Co(II) complexes could decrease the redox potential of Co(III)/Co(II), facilitating the transformation of Tris-Co(III) complexes into Tris-Co(II) complexes. Therefore, HO could be generated continuously in the presence of H 2 O 2 . Especially, Tris-Co(II) complexes are apt to combine with Escherichia Coli cells by electrostatic interactions, inducing a higher utilization ratio of the generated HO . Therefore, the proposed Tris-Co(II) complex-H 2 O 2 system could be employed as a high-efficiency sterilizing reagent for inactivation of E. Coli . This work provides a promising strategy for bacterial inactivation via an economic and eco-friendly manner.