So I now own Peracetic Acid - Tips to keep me living please

[phatboytall]

After seeing this stuff used in the Kernal brewery i was very impressed with it. So obviously i've gone and bought some off ebay....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0584030606

I've read on here its very very potent stuff so advice to keep me living as long as possible greatly recieved!

- How to dilute? 10ml per litre?
- Can i just pour 100ml in a pyrex jug and then pour into bucket and add 10 litres of water?
- Do i need gloves and glasses to handle incase of splashing? something i should purchase?
- Storage? Just keep it in a safe cupboard at the back of the garage in its orignial bottle?

Serious advice much appreciated....

[EoinMag]

Wear safety goggles if you are not a glasses wearer.

[gregorach]

I have no experience with peracetic, but...

- Can i just pour 100ml in a pyrex jug and then pour into bucket and add 10 litres of water?

When diluting concentrated acids, always add the acid to the water, never the other way around. Very bad things can happen.

I wouldn't consider playing with peracetic without proper safety goggles and gloves at an absolute minimum.

[Andy]

I think I'll stick to Starsan

[phatboytall]

Starting to wish i had! I'll put it down to a moment of ebay "its a bargain" madness.

Goggles Check
Gloves Check
Acid to water then stir, very good tip.

[kebabman]

I would keep a very close eye on the container. I found mine had swollen dangerously and I don't want to think what could have happened if I hadn't noticed.
Personally I would get rid of the stuff right away, use starsan or videne instead there is really no need to have it in a domestic situation.

[FUBAR]

been using P.A for quite a while now,got mine from the maltmiller.The only precautions that I take is to wear rubber gloves whilst filling the syringe with P.A,and also put this in the bottle first before adding water

[Kev888]

I also got a small bottle from the malt miller a while ago, and he/Rob has clearly put some thought into the setup as It comes with a measuring syringe, which fits in the bottle neck, and also a small 250ml spray bottle; with his setup you draw out 3-5ml with the syringe and then transfer/mix with 250ml in the spray bottle. Obviously you shouldn't skimp on safety measures in any case, but this kind of process seems well designed and lends itself to avoiding mistakes, since most of the transfer happens with the syringe nozzle inside the bottles.

I use more starsan than peracetic - especially where the solution needs to last a while or can be re-used (apparently peracetic acid goes off quickly once diluted) or where more volume is needed - but peracetic is supposed to be even more powerful so I tend to use it in preparing yeast and for more sensitive applications like fermenter taps and that kind of thing. Though my taps are stainless, I don't think peracetic is good with copper...

Cheers
kev

[Blackaddler]

I would keep a very close eye on the container. I found mine had swollen dangerously and I don't want to think what could have happened if I hadn't noticed.

Peracetic gives off oxygen as it degrades. It should come in a container which is able to vent it off.

Check my previous thread on the subject.

[kane]

I've recently switched to using peracetic acid (from themaltmiller), its great stuff. I wouldn't dream of going back to the old rinse and rinse and rinse sanitisers now, and i also dont have to worry about what water i use with it (unlike starsan).

I've managed to get a few splashes on myself a few times, it seems to bleach the skin white and maybe sting a little, so now i try and wear gloves when handling it.

Do you know what concentration that is on ebay? I think it's 5% from TMM, does it always come as a 5% solution?

Cheers
Kane

[gregorach]

been using P.A for quite a while now,got mine from the maltmiller.The only precautions that I take is to wear rubber gloves whilst filling the syringe with P.A,and also put this in the bottle first before adding water

Wrong way round - add the acid to the water, not the water to the acid.

[Blackaddler]

I think it's 5% from TMM, does it always come as a 5% solution?

I don't know about TMM, but Peracetic is produced in concentrations of up to 15%.

[Piscator]

Make sure it is in a container that can self vent because it WILL produce gas and pop a non vented container if left for long enough, with unpleasant results.

Eye protection is a must in my opinion - PAA is an industrial sanitiser and is not in the same league as bleach or other household chemicals.

You only get one set of eyes so why take any chances?

Read Kens story - although not PAA it involved industrial cleaning chemicals that are in the same league and is very very moving.
http://www.kenwoodward.co.uk/Ken's%20Accident.html

Don't get me wrong - PAA is one of the best chemical sanitisers out there but really needs to be handled carefully - think about storage etc and what might go wrong if a family member found it who was not aware of the potential.

Take care
Steve

[coatesg]

Wrong way round - add the acid to the water, not the water to the acid.

+ lots and lots.

Otherwise, you can generate a *lot* of heat - hydration of stronger acids is highly exothermic. The danger being that the whole thing boils and erupts into your face...

"Here lies John still and placid,
he added water to the acid.
Clever Jane did as she oughta,
she added acid to the water."

[Scotty]

Always store it somewhere cool (around 15c is ideal), preferably in a vented container. If not, then vent it by hand regularly or it WILL explode. I know from experience on this one.