Asbestos-induced decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Decomposition of H2O2 by chrysotile asbestos was demonstrated employing titration with KMnO4. The participation of OH radicals in this process was delineated employing the OH radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A mechanism involving the Fenton and Haber-Weiss reactions as the pathway for the H2O2 decomposition and OH radical production is postulated.