Methods for generating chlorine dioxide and compositions for disinfecting

A composition for generating chlorine dioxide which comprises an aqueous liquid medium, a chlorine dioxide precursor capable of generating chlorine dioxide when exposed to a transition metal component in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range of about 6 to about 10, a transition metal component in an amount effective to promote the generation of chlorine dioxide from said chlorine dioxide precursor, and at least one buffer component in an amount effective to maintain said aqueous liquid medium at a desired pH during the generation of chlorine dioxide, and to increase the rate of chlorine dioxide generation from said chlorine dioxide precursor relative to a similar composition without said at least one buffer component.