Environmentally friendly peracetic acid decontamination formula with increased performance and chemical stability

The present invention relates to the decontamination arts. It finds particular application as a composition to be used in conjunction with a liquid or dry sterilizing or disinfecting concentrate to form an environmentally friendly, microbicidally active solution containing peracetic acid with extended stability upon mixing with water and will be described with particular reference thereto. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is also applicable to other liquid sterilization and disinfection processes where quantities of a decontaminant are to be used. An environmentally friendly decontaminant solution, which may be disposed of after use without posing significant environmental hazards, is formulated without molybdenum-based corrosion inhibitors and preferably is free of all heavy metals. A zeolite-based buffering system optionally replaces phosphate buffers for maintaining the pH of the decontaminant solution at an appropriate pH for effective antimicrobial decontamination. Molybdenum-free decontaminant solutions containing peracetic acid retain their peracetic acid levels, and thus their antimicrobial effectiveness, for longer periods than comparable solutions formulated with a molybdate corrosion inhibitor.