A preliminary assessment of Bacillus anthracis spore inactivation using an electrochemically activated solution (ECASOL).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of electrochemically activated solution (ECASOL) in decontaminating Bacillus anthracis Ames and Vollum 1B spores, with and without changing the source water hardness and final ECASOL pH.


RESULTS
Five different ECASOL formulations were generated, in which the source water hardness and final ECASOL pH were varied, resulting in cases where significant changes in free available chlorine (FAC) and oxidative-reduction potential (ORP) were observed. B. anthracis Ames and Vollum 1B spores were suspended in the various ECASOL formulations for 30 min, and decontamination efficacy was determined; calcium hypochlorite [5% high-test hypochlorite (HTH)] was used as a positive control. The five different ECASOL formulations yielded mean FAC levels ranging from 305 to 464 ppm, and mean ORP levels ranging from +826 to +1000 mV. Exposure to all the ECASOL formulations and 5% HTH resulted in >or=7.0 log reductions in both B. anthracis Ames and Vollum 1B spores.


CONCLUSIONS
The present testing demonstrated that ECASOL with a minimum of c. 300-ppm FAC levels and +800-mV ORP inactivated the B. anthracis spores in suspension, similar to 5% HTH.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide information for decontaminating B. anthracis Ames and Vollum 1B spores in suspension using ECASOL.
Rogers
J V
JV
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, USA.
Ducatte
G R
GR
Choi
Y W
YW
Early
P C
PC
D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*
D006997:Hypochlorous Acid