Re: [CH] news item: El Paso Pepper Producer (chipotles) V8 #755
Cameron Begg (begg@ceof.ohio-state.edu)
Tue, 06 Apr 2004 08:39:41 -0400
Hi C-H's,
I think Matt is right. However he might be giving the author too much credit. Many people are sloppy with chemical terms because they find them confusing or intimidating. I'll bet it IS hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) because that is a good sterilizer. I have been using it for the last couple of weeks to keep a kitchen finger injury (usual end of finger slice) clean. Just dip in offending digit and watch it fizz!
The oxygen in H2O2 is very loosely bound, and when it comes in contact with small surface particles (such as the moulds and fungi on the pepper pods) it comes out of solution and acts as a powerful sterilant. It is also handy mixed half and half with mouthwash and used as a gargle for throat infections. It foams with cleansing oxygen bubbles in a very satisfying way.
BTW - we are talking here about the "over-the-counter" H2O2. Not the syrupy rocket fuel oxidizer that Matt mentioned which is highly corrosive and very dangerous!!
The only other contender I can think of is perchloric acid - but that seems a bit extreme for washing pepper pods. It is commonly used as a digester of organic materials.
>Peter and AndyB --
>Actually, I don't think that the article is referring to hydrogen peroxide
>being mixed with another acid -- otherwise, I don't think that they would refer
>to it as "peroxide acid". Here's my thought -- when hydrogen peroxide (a thick
>syrupy liquid) is mixed with water (like the hydrogen peroxide you buy at the
>drugstore), it forms a weak acid.
Remember - I'm more of an applied physicist than a chemist :-)
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Regards, Cameron.