Inactivation Of Sars-Cov-2 In The Liquid Phase: Are Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide And Sodium Percarbonate Efficient Decontamination Agents?

A diluted 3% w/w hydrogen peroxide solution acidified to pH 2.5 by adding citric acid inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus by more than 4 orders of magnitude in 5 min. After a contact ti me of 15 min, no viral replication was detected. Aqueous solutions of sodium percarbonate inactivated coronavirus by >3 log(10) diminution in 15 min. Conversely, H2O2 solutions with no additives displayed a scarce virucidal activity (1.1 log(10) diminution in 5 min), confirming that a pH-modifying ingredient is necessary to have a H2O2 -based disinfectant active against the novel coronavirus.