The first step of Pure Maintenance’s three-step process is called the “InstaPURE Process™”. The InstaPURE Process™ is a highly effective disinfecting procedure that, when performed properly, denatures mold, bacteria, and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19. The InstaPURE Process™ is such a strong and effective disinfectant that it disinfects any surface it touches. Click here to learn more about the science behind what makes the InstaPURE Process™ so effective.
Understanding the Chemistry of the InstaPURE Process™
It is important to understand the chemistry of the InstaPURE Process™ and its amazing ability to perform like a cold sterilant. Peracetic Acid is an organic compound produced by reacting acetic acid, a component of vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. This creates an equilibrium mixture of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and peracetic acid. The vapor contains all three of these compounds. Here are a few interesting bullet points of InstaPURE Process™, i.e. Peracetic Acid.
- Peracetic acid is also known as peroxyacetic acid or PAA.
- The EPA first registered peracetic acid as an antimicrobial in 1985.
- Use sites of PAA include agricultural premises, food establishments, medical facilities, and homes. It is also registered for use in dairy and cheese processing plants, food processing equipment, and pasteurizers in breweries, wineries, and beverage plants.
- Peracetic acid is also used as a chemical disinfectant in healthcare, a sanitizer in the food industry, a purifier in water treatments, and dialysis equipment, and, of course, in vapor form by Pure Maintenance.
- The InstaPURE Process™’ vapor destroys microorganisms by causing lysis. (tearing open of the cell wall).
- Killing microorganisms by lysis prevents cells or spores from creating resistant defense mechanisms.
- This process, when applied correctly, dramatically increases vapor pressure in the space. To compare, hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) creates very little vapor pressure. As such, HPV is adequate at killing microorganisms that the vapor touches, but it is ineffective at reaching microorganisms in cracks and crevices of a home or facility, or at pushing itself upward to high surfaces.
- Peracetic acid is 1 of only 7 antimicrobials listed by the EPA as a “safer choice chemical”, alongside such others as sodium bisulfate, citric acid, and H2O2.
- The InstaPURE Process™ breaks down to oxygen, water, and acetic acid. Re-entry to the treated spaces is usually allowed within 2 hours post-treatment. We directly measure the PAA vapor and hydrogen peroxide vapor with a gas-sensing direct measurement device to ensure PPM levels are at or below 0.5 and 0.4 respectively, confirming the safety of re-entry into the space.
Understanding the Science
The Synergistic Behavior Between Acetic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide
Peracetic acid solutions also contain hydrogen peroxide. The prevailing belief claims that the predominant disinfection comes from peracetic acid, as PAA is a much more potent antimicrobial agent than hydrogen peroxide, especially at low concentrations. Several research studies have argued that there are virtually no synergistic effects between the PAA and hydrogen peroxide. However, several investigations suggest that there may be enhanced microbial efficiency due to a potential efficacious synergy between PAA and hydrogen peroxide. They compared solutions containing “pure” PAA, hydrogen peroxide only, and commercially available combinations of both PAA and hydrogen peroxide.
The results of these investigations suggest that the kinetic model of combined PAA and hydrogen microbial inactivation occurs in a staged process that includes sensitization, catalase attack, and irreversible attack leading to lysis. The results indicate that PAA must first initiate the attack on the cell, damaging the protective systems before the hydrogen peroxide can contribute to the bacterial inactivation reaction. Once the catalase within the microorganism is inhibited by PAA, the hydroxyl radical can rapidly damage the cell.
*Pre-cleaning of all surfaces is required before any treatments. Post treatment cleaning protocols should remain a best practice.
