The Changing Role of Hydrogen Peroxide in Disinfection
By Becky Mundt

Many people believe hydrogen peroxide is most often or
commonly used as a disinfectant. But that simply isn't
the case. Looking at hydrogen peroxide use in industry,
the highest volume users are textile, paper and pulp
producers.

And, while hydrogen peroxide is used as an algaecide and
de contaminant in applications from water gardens to
commercial aquariums and aqua culture farms, it has not
been a major player in medical, disaster or other
disinfection applications for many decades.

Happily, all of that is beginning to change as this non
toxic, environmentally friendly and non polluting chemical
compound begins to provide new answers for difficult
questions.

Medical equipment sterilizing has been done using toxic
gases or high heat for many years. The problems with
these methods include exposure to carcinogenic compounds
and gases, inability to sterilize sensitive equipment,
heat damage, and more. In the 1990’s a new medical
equipment sterilizing system was introduced by a
California company using hydrogen peroxide as the
sterilizing agent.

Additionally, new research (circa 2004 and since) has
proved the efficacy of using hydrogen peroxide in dental
sterilizing procedures. While your dentist may use
hydrogen peroxide to bleach your teeth, chances are, he
or she is not using it to clean their equipment, yet…
But that too is beginning to change as more dentists and
health professionals seek ways to avoid toxicity and over
exposure to strong disinfectants which do not break down
easily in the environment or in human beings.

The really exciting news about the latest research with
hydrogen peroxide disinfection comes not from the medical
community, but from the front lines of environmental
disaster response in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

New research has now proven that hydrogen peroxide in
combination with copper and certain resins can
effectively eliminate contaminants from flood water
samples taken from New Orleans in the months after
Katrina struck.

This research, sponsored by the National Science
Foundation has opened a new avenue of discovery
and exploration using hydrogen peroxide and various
catalysts which “super charge” the oxidizing properties
of hydrogen peroxide without producing toxic side effects.

It is the reactive nature of hydrogen peroxide in
relationship with certain metals which makes this all
possible.

So, as it turns out, the “problem” of hydrogen peroxide
reaction to specific metals in water or in the environment,
has proven to be a solution for the decontamination of
flood waters after major disasters.

This new application, while still in its early testing
and application stages could lead the way to whole new
areas of application for hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing
properties and reactive nature of hydrogen peroxide are
put to work specifically within controlled conditions
to effect specific outcomes.

Find out more interesting and amazing facts about hydrogen peroxide at http://www.foodgradeh2o2.com Did you know hydrogen peroxide is a great odor eliminator around the home? That's only the beginning.
You can find our free report Hydrogen Peroxide Facts and Myths at the site as well as lots of great information about home and garden uses of hydrogen peroxide.
Get our newest ebook 101 Home Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide at http://www.foodgradeh2o2.com/101/

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