PROCESS FOR PREPARING EQUILIBRIUM PEROXY ACID AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LACTONE

摘要

A process for preparing an equilibrium peroxy acid by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with a carboxylic acid while removing the formed water in a reactive distillation device, the contents of the water and hydrogen peroxide in the acid being each 1.5 % by weight or less; and a process for producing a lactone by the reaction between the peroxy acid thus obtained and a cyclic ketone, which permits the selectivity of the lactone to be improved without lowering the activity of the ketone at an early stage of conversion.