Municipal and industrial water treatment plants face a recurring trade-off: raw water with high organic load drives up oxidant demand and increases the formation of disinfection by-products during subsequent chlorination. PERACLEAN® Vanguard is Evonik's peracetic acid solution for pre-oxidation of raw water influent, applied upstream of the primary disinfection step.
What PERACLEAN® Vanguard does
- Reduces oxidant demand in raw water influent ahead of the main disinfection stage
- Targets metals and trihalomethane-forming organic precursors as well as other contaminants of concern
- Non-chlorinated chemistry – unlike chlorine-based pre-oxidants, peracetic acid does not form chlorinated disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes
Published peer-reviewed research on peracetic acid pre-oxidation in drinking water reports reductions in disinfection by-product formation potential of up to 40 % at a 5 mg/L PAA/H₂O₂ dose, with stronger effects in the pH 7.8–8.2 range. Actual performance depends on raw water composition, dose and pH.
Certification and use conditions PERACLEAN® Vanguard is certified under NSF/ANSI/CAN 60 (Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects) as an oxidant with a maximum use level of 15 mg/L, and additionally listed as a membrane cleaner for off-line use with flushing prior to returning the system to drinking water service.
What happens after treatment Peracetic acid decomposes into water, oxygen and acetic acid – the compound that gives vinegar its characteristic taste. No chlorinated by-products are formed. As with all oxidants, dosing and residual monitoring must follow the applicable operating instructions; PERACLEAN® Vanguard is a hazardous chemical in its concentrated form and requires the handling measures set out in the Safety Data Sheet.
Why water treatment operators work with Evonik
- Application expertise – More than 50 years of peracetic acid manufacturing and a technical team experienced in municipal and industrial water treatment.
- Analytical support – Evonik co-developed Standard Method 4500-PAA for measuring peracetic acid residuals, supporting compliance documentation.
- Supply reliability – Production and NSF-listed facilities across multiple locations.
Talk to our water treatment specialists Whether you are evaluating pre-oxidation for a new raw water source or looking to reduce disinfection by-product formation in an existing plant, our Active Oxygens team can support your trial design and dosing strategy.
Contact us or explore our water treatment portfolio.