title: Removal of proteinaceous soils using hydroxyl radicals generated by the electrolysis of hydrogen peroxide.
abstract: We have developed here for the first time a novel method to generate hydroxyl radicals, *OH, by applying slightly negative electric potentials (-0.2--0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl) to the surface of a metal (or metal oxide) that is in contact with hydrogen peroxide solution containing a supporting electrolyte. Namely, *OH radicals were generated at the surface by the electrolysis of hydrogen peroxide according to the equation, H2O2+e- --> *OH+OH-. This method was used to clean a stainless steel fouled with a model protein, beta-lactoglobulin. The *OHs generated at the surface were effective in removing beta-lactoglobulin that had been irreversibly adsorbed, by several minutes of treatment at room temperature (22+/-2 degrees C). The removal rates measured for various concentrations of H2O2 and supporting electrolyte and different potentials were determined exclusively by the electric current.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
authors.forename: Koreyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Hirohumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry*; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil; D013193:Stainless Steel
chemical_list: D007782:Lactoglobulins; D012987:Soil; D013193:Stainless Steel; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide