A practical comparison for modern sanitation, water treatment, and odor control
Peracetic acid (PAA) has long been a staple in sanitation programs across food and beverage processing, agriculture, and industrial operations. It is effective and widely known. However, many facilities are reevaluating its role as operations become more focused on equipment longevity, worker safety, material compatibility, and the ability to simplify chemical programs.
Ultra-Pure chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) has emerged as a powerful alternative, not because PAA is ineffective, but because Ultra-Pure ClO₂ solves several operational challenges that acid-based oxidizers often introduce.
This article explores the real differences between Ultra-Pure ClO₂ and peracetic acid, with a focus on purity, safety, pH and corrosiveness, material compatibility, regulatory use, logistics, and performance across water treatment, food and beverage processing, livestock operations, and deodorization.
Why many facilities are reevaluating peracetic acid
PAA is a strong oxidizer and works well in many sanitation applications. That said, its chemistry brings inherent tradeoffs that can become limiting over time.
Most commercial PAA products are equilibrium mixtures containing peracetic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and water. This results in a low-pH, acidic solution with a sharp odor profile. In real facilities, this often translates to increased corrosion risk, worker irritation concerns, ventilation requirements, and careful handling of bulk liquid oxidizers.
As facilities push for longer equipment life, improved worker conditions, and more versatile sanitation and water treatment tools, many are asking whether a neutral-pH, non-acid oxidizer could better fit their long-term needs.
What makes Ultra-Pure chlorine dioxide different
Chlorine dioxide is fundamentally different from chlorine and acid-based oxidizers. It is a dissolved gas in water, not an acid, and it disinfects through oxidation without hydrolyzing or forming chlorinated residues.
Ultra-Pure ClO₂, as produced by Selective Micro, is generated using patented micro-reactor technology. This process produces chlorine dioxide without stabilizers, without acid carriers, and without added hydrogen peroxide. The result is a neutral-pH, residue-free oxidant designed for broad compatibility and consistent performance.
This distinction is critical. Many products marketed as chlorine dioxide rely on stabilized chemistries or multi-component systems that introduce additional ions or residues. Ultra-Pure ClO₂ is intentionally designed to avoid those compromises.
Molecular structure and why it matters operationally
Chlorine dioxide is a small, neutral molecule that exists as a dissolved gas in water. Because it does not dissociate into ions or rely on acidity, it remains effective across a wide pH range commonly encountered in industrial and agricultural water systems.
Peracetic acid, by contrast, is an organic peroxide that depends on acidic chemistry. Its antimicrobial performance is closely tied to maintaining a low pH, which inherently increases corrosiveness and handling concerns.
In practice, this means Ultra-Pure ClO₂ can often be applied at lower concentrations and with greater flexibility across both water and surface applications.
pH, corrosiveness, and material compatibility
One of the most meaningful differences between Ultra-Pure ClO₂ and PAA is pH.
Peracetic acid is acidic by nature. Many PAA formulations are classified as corrosive to metals and irritating to skin and eyes, particularly at higher concentrations or with repeated exposure. Over time, this acidity can accelerate wear on stainless steel, elastomers, seals, gaskets, pumps, sensors, and mixed-metal systems.
Ultra-Pure ClO₂ operates at a neutral pH and does not rely on acid chemistry to achieve efficacy. This makes it significantly easier to integrate into systems containing sensitive components, including water lines, drinkers, CIP systems, processing equipment, and diagnostic or dosing hardware.
For operations focused on asset protection and long-term reliability, this difference alone can be decisive.
Broad-spectrum efficacy at low concentrations
Both Ultra-Pure ClO₂ and PAA are broad-spectrum oxidizers effective against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and biofilms.
Where Ultra-Pure ClO₂ often stands apart is its ability to deliver consistent performance at very low parts-per-million concentrations, particularly in water systems. Because it functions as a dissolved gas, it penetrates biofilms and complex water networks efficiently without requiring aggressive acidity.
PAA can also deliver strong antimicrobial results, but frequently at higher concentrations and with greater sensitivity to organic load, pH conditions, and contact environment.
The result is not a question of whether either chemistry works, but which chemistry aligns better with operational goals and constraints.
Water treatment, food processing, and livestock operations
Ultra-Pure ClO₂ has a long history of use in municipal and industrial water treatment, where stability across pH ranges and minimal byproduct formation are critical. These same attributes translate well into food and beverage processing water, equipment sanitation, and livestock drinking water systems.
In livestock operations, Ultra-Pure ClO₂ is commonly used to maintain clean water lines, control biofilm, reduce microbial pressure, and support overall animal health without altering water taste or mineral balance.
PAA remains common in food processing environments, particularly for surface sanitation. However, facilities seeking a single solution that can address water systems, surfaces, and environmental hygiene often find Ultra-Pure ClO₂ to be more versatile.
Deodorization and odor control
Chlorine dioxide is widely recognized for its deodorization capabilities. Rather than masking odors, it oxidizes the odor-causing compounds themselves, including sulfur- and nitrogen-based molecules.
This makes Ultra-Pure ClO₂ particularly effective in livestock facilities, waste handling areas, processing plants, transport vehicles, and enclosed spaces where persistent odors create operational or compliance challenges.
Peracetic acid, on the other hand, has a strong vinegar-like odor profile and can become irritating in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments, limiting its usefulness for odor control.
Shipping, storage, and logistics
Most peracetic acid products are shipped and stored as liquid oxidizers. This increases freight weight, handling complexity, storage requirements, and spill or corrosion risk.
Selective Micro’s Ultra-Pure ClO₂ is supplied in dry sachet formats that generate chlorine dioxide in water on site. This significantly reduces the need to transport large volumes of liquid chemicals, simplifies storage, and improves safety and logistics for many operations.
Regulatory and environmental considerations
Ultra-Pure ClO₂ is widely used in regulated environments, including food processing, water treatment, and agriculture, and Selective Micro’s Selectrocide products are EPA registered for appropriate applications.
From an environmental perspective, chlorine dioxide is often favored in water treatment because it disinfects through oxidation rather than chlorination, reducing the formation of many regulated chlorinated byproducts. Its use at low concentrations also helps minimize overall chemical load.
Peracetic acid is also used in regulated environments, but its hazard classifications and acidic nature typically require more stringent handling, PPE, and risk management protocols.
Choosing the right oxidizer for your operation
Peracetic acid remains an effective tool, and for some applications it may continue to make sense. However, facilities focused on neutral pH, material compatibility, low-concentration performance, simplified logistics, and true deodorization increasingly turn to Ultra-Pure chlorine dioxide as a more balanced, long-term solution.
Selective Micro’s Ultra-Pure ClO₂ platform is designed to deliver high-level antimicrobial performance without the operational burdens often associated with acid-based oxidizers. For operations looking to reduce corrosion, improve safety, and consolidate sanitation and water treatment programs, Ultra-Pure ClO₂ is worth serious consideration.