Generation of peroxyformic acid through polyhydric alcohol formate

A method for forming peroxyformic acid comprising:

• contacting a polyhydric alcohol ester of formic acid comprising glycerol formates and hydrogen peroxide to form a liquid that comprises from 0.1 ppm to 10,000 ppm of peroxyformic acid and wherein the pH of said formed liquid becomes 8 or lower without the addition of an acidulant to decrease the pH of said formed liquid at any point after said contacting;
• wherein the ester in the formed liquid comprises from 1 ppm to 500,000 ppm
• wherein the hydrogen peroxide in the formed liquid comprises from 0.1 ppm to 100,000 ppm,
• wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester of formic acid and the hydrogen peroxide are contacted to form a solution that comprises at least 1 ppm peroxyformic acid within 1 minute of the contact time, and
• wherein the method for forming peroxyformic acid does not include an enzyme catalyst and/or a second step of adding an acidulant to decrease the pH of said formed liquid.