Method for quenching peroxycarboxylic acid runaway reactions

A method of quenching a runaway reaction of a peroxide or peroxycarboxylic acid composition comprising:

• detecting a predetermined increase in rate of temperature increase as a function of time, in a tank, wherein the tank contains a peroxycarboxylic acid composition or mixing a peroxycarboxylic acid-forming composition, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid composition or mixing a peroxycarboxylic acid-forming composition comprises hydrogen peroxide and peroxycarboxylic acid;
• dispensing from about 2 wt-% to about 10 wt-% based on the weight of the peroxycarboxylic acid composition or mixing a peroxycarboxylic acid-forming composition of a stabilizer consisting of phosphoric acid or salt thereof, a pyrophosphoric acid or salt thereof, a phosphonic acid or salt thereof, or a combination thereof into the tank, wherein the stabilizer is combined with a dye to provide a visual indicator of the quenching;
• and
• quenching the runaway reaction wherein at least about 80% of the peroxy species in the peroxycarboxylic acid composition or peroxycarboxylic acid-forming composition in the tank is salvaged after the quenching the runaway reaction and can be reused instead of disposed.