Peracetic Acid; Used in Various Disinfectant Applications across Various Industries

Pooja S
3 min readMar 1, 2022

--

Peracetic acid

Peracetic acid is a peroxy acid in which the OH group is substituted by a hydroperoxy group. It is a versatile oxidizing agent that is used as a disinfectant. It is used as an antimicrobial in various industrial as well as household processes, such as beverage plants, food establishment, dairy processing plants, wineries, pasteurizers in breweries, medical facilities, and agricultural processes, among others. Peracetic acid is also used as a disinfectant for medical supplies, as well as to prevent biofilm formation in pulp industries. It has been extensively used in paper and pulp bleaching industry because of its strong oxidizing properties.

Peracetic Acid is primarily used in the food industry, where it is applied as a cleanser and as a disinfectant. It is used to sanitize food contact surfaces, sanitize and disinfect animal premises, and as a food processing aid for antimicrobial intervention without imparting flavors, colors, or odors to the finished product. Peracetic acid blends have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved as sanitizer on food contact surfaces and for direct food contact with fruits, vegetables and meat, and poultry and seafood. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for peracetic acid from the global food industry.

It is a very efficient chemical, imparting no flavors, colors, or odors and is extremely effective in reducing bacteria counts in wastewater and effluent. Peracetic acid is an excellent choice for water treatment applications, combined sewer overflows, and non-potable water, where its high toxicity and flammability present serious safety hazards. The EPA, FDA, and OSHA provide guidance to determine acceptable levels of peracetic acid (PAA) for worker exposures. These agencies also provide technical data bulletins that detail the safety requirements for different levels of exposure. Pharma manufacturers must follow guidelines for concentrations of PAA.

The safety and efficacy of this chemical can be assured by its sterility. It is an ideal disinfectant that quickly decomposes without leaving any residues. In food, it extends the shelf life and kills bacteria in a natural way. Moreover, it is used in specialized manufacturing processes to make food safer. In short, peracetic acid is an excellent chemical to use in any food application. The main benefits of peracetic acid for food producers include sterilization, fast degradation, and environmental friendliness. This biocide quickly degrades into harmless byproducts, and it is now found across the food spectrum, from dairy to produce.

Read more About Peracetic Acid- https://bit.ly/35mwGzn

Another benefit of peracetic acid for food producers is its versatility. It is a strong biocide and breaks down rapidly into oxygen and water. It is a good choice for a wide variety of industrial processes. However, there are some drawbacks. Peracetic acid has many applications in several industries, but it is also an irritant to workers, and little health safety guidance exists for its use. It is an organic chemical used in numerous applications, such as sanitizer in the food industry, chemical disinfectant in healthcare, and disinfectant during water treatment. Peracetic acid can be used as sanitizing disinfectant agent in various industry.

Moreover, it is widely used across various disinfectant applications across various industries, and is considered as one of the most effective agents after ozone.

--

--