Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective disinfectant, that is based on the oxydating capacity of oxygen. The chemical formula of Hydrogen peroxyde is H2O2, which falls apart in H2O (water) and O (free oxygen). This oxygen agent oxydizes the proteins in the cells of organisms and destroys them.
Hydrogen peroxyde is used regularly as hatching egg disinfectant. It is often sold in 30% solution concentrate. An effective solution for hatching egg desinfection contains 3% hydrogen perioxide.
As Hydrogen peroxide is instable, the product needs to be stabilized, to prevent it from falling apart to quickly.
This stabilizing process is done in commercial products for instance with
- silver nitrate, (for instance the commercial product Aquaclean)
- glyceride (for instance the commercial product Glyroxyl)
- or an acid.
Often, other products are added to allow the product to form a foam.
An effective house made solution for hatching egg disinfection can be made in the following way:
- dilute the hydrogen perioxide to a 3% concentration (normally that will require diluting it 10 times, as most commercial hydrogen perioxide solutions contain 30% active hydrogen perioxide
- add 1% acetic acid for stabilising
- add some dishwasher detergent for foam forming
Although this product is rather stable, try to use it up within a week, to prevent contamination and reduction of concentation.
Hydrogen peroxyde must be applied as a liquid, but can be used as a very fine mist (with an ultrafogger). The product is more effective if the temperature for application is increased to about 40oC.
CAUTION: If hydrogen peroxyde gets in contact with copper, for instance during warming, a chemical reaction can occur that will lead to very high temperatures and eventually to explosion. When using it... handle with utmost care!