High-dilution peroxyacid disinfectant formulations with persistent bacteriostatic coatings

Overview

This research program develops optimized peroxyacid-based disinfectant formulations capable of achieving greater than 3-log inactivation of bacteria, viruses, spores, and fungi within 10 minutes at dilutions as high as 1:200. The technology targets both aqueous disinfection (water and wastewater) and surface applications (hard surfaces and fabrics). A key innovation is the incorporation of nontoxic additives such as chitosans and surfactants that form persistent bacteriostatic coatings on treated surfaces without reducing the germ-kill performance of the active peroxyacid compounds. This dual-action approach delivers rapid disinfection while providing residual surface protection, addressing a critical gap in conventional disinfectants that lose efficacy once dry.

Technical specifications

Core active ingredients:

• Peracetic acid and performic acid compounds
• Effective at dilutions ranging from 1:100 to 1:1000
• Functional across pH range of 5–10 and total organic carbon (TOC) levels of 0–100 mg/L

Performance targets:

• Greater than 3-log inactivation within 10 minutes of contact time
• Broad-spectrum efficacy against indicator bacteria (E. coli), viruses (MS2 and Phi6 bacteriophages), fungi (Candida albicans), and spores (Clostridium sporogenes)
• Effective on both hard surfaces and soft (fabric) surfaces

Additive system:

• Chitosan-based and surfactant-based nontoxic additives
• Form persistent bacteriostatic coatings on treated surfaces
• No compromise to primary germ-kill performance

Regulatory status: Peroxyacids already hold regulatory approval for many disinfection applications, supporting a streamlined commercialization pathway.

Technology readiness level

The technology is currently at proof-of-concept stage (TRL 3–4). Prior bench-scale screening and time-resolved batch disinfection trials over a two-year period have demonstrated promising inactivation performance at dilutions from 1:100 to 1:1000 in water, wastewater, and hard surface applications. A planned six-month proof-of-concept study will conduct high-throughput screening followed by batch experiments testing multiple dilutions (1:100, 1:300, 1:1000) against a panel of indicator organisms at 25 °C, with survival analysis at 1, 3, 10, and 30 minutes using standard culture methods. Further validation is needed to confirm additive coating persistence and performance under real-world conditions.