Patent ID: 8729296

Claim:
A method for forming a single percarboxylic acid composition for bleaching, antimicrobial, sanitizing and/or disinfecting applications comprising: (a) providing a reaction mixture comprising: (i) at least one ester of a polyhydric alcohol and a C1 to C18 carboxylic acid; (ii) a source of alkalinity; and (iii) an oxidizing agent, wherein the reaction mixture has a pH greater than about 12.5, is stable, is not at equilibrium, and is substantially free of a stabilizing agent; and (b) allowing the reaction mixture to react for a sufficient amount of time such that at least one C1 to C18 percarboxylic acid is generated to form a peroxycarboxylic acid composition ex situ from said bleaching, antimicrobial, sanitizing and/or disinfecting application.