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Courtesy of NAA:

The first U.S. approval of peracetic acid for use in aquaculture when fish are present has been fostered by a scientist with the USDA/ARS Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center. VigorOx® Trident can now be used as a disinfectant specifically for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), ponds and fish eggs for pathogen reduction.

Dr. Dave Straus, along with his colleague Dr. Thomas Meinelt at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin, started collaborating in 2007 to organize a successful international group for research and develop on the use of peracetic acid in aquaculture. Dr. Straus’ personal goal was to get peracetic acid approved for U.S. fish farmers to use when fish are present, as it is in the European Union.

Another colleague, Dr. Chris Good at The Freshwater Institute, along with Dr. Tim Welch at the USDA/ARS Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research Lab undertook pivotal research to help gain this approval for Evonik Active Oxygens, LLC.

Peracetic acid contains acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and a stabilizing agent. It is very potent and has replaced chlorine-based disinfectants in many industries. Peracetic acid has greater reactivity and lipid-penetrating properties than hydrogen peroxide alone and is not deactivated by catalase and peroxidase (naturally occurring enzymes of organism membranes) like hydrogen peroxide. Thus, peracetic acid eliminates unwanted microorganisms easier and faster. Most importantly, it is eco-friendly, does not leave dangerous residues and rapidly degrades after use into water, oxygen and acetic acid, which also quickly degrades.

The manufacturer, Evonik, now has three EPA peracetic acid approvals:

1. sanitizing surfaces of harvesting equipment used in aquaculture,
2. cleaning and disinfecting fish culture tanks and raceways when water is drained and fish are not present; and,
3. water treatment use when fish are present in RAS and ponds, and for use in egg hatcheries.

The Agricultural Research Service is the US Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Their mission is to deliver scientific solutions to national and global agricultural challenges.

For more information, contact Dave Straus at dave.straus@usda.gov or visit Sustainable peroxide aquaculture solutions – Evonik Industries.