Impedimetric Test for Rapid Determination of Performic Acid (pfa) Biocidal Activity toward Echerichia Coli

Background. Performic acid has recently become available on a commercial scale for potential use in wastewater disinfection and can become an innovative biocide for various purposes in food processing. The aim of our study was: 1) to investigate the antimicrobial resistance of performic acid as high active and non toxic chemical disinfectant against Escherichi coli (hygiene indicator test microorganism used in industrial microbiology) and 2) to evaluate the electrical impedance measurement method usefulness for fast and high precise test of antibacterial activity. Material and methods. Four types of antimicrobial disinfectants (commercial 35% hydrogen peroxide, 1% performic acid, 35% hydrogen peroxide and 15% formic acid) were tested against Escherichia coli as hygiene indicator test microorganism. By evaluating the biocidal activity of selected disinfectants two methods were compared: electrical impedance measurement and classical serial dilution method with turbidity effect. Results. It was stated that the performic acid expressed the highest antibacterial activity in comparison to other tested peroxide disinfectants: commercial 35% hydrogen peroxide solution and components required for performic acid production: 35% hydrogen peroxide solution with stabilizers and 15% formic acid solution with stabilizers). It was demonstrated that the proposed alternative microbiology method of electrical impedance measurement facilitates a rapidly and more precise analyses of the intensity of disinfectants inhibition effect. Conclusions. It can be postulated that both, the performic acid disinfectants as well as the impedimetric method can be a good advantage in the industrial microbiology.