Process for making peroxycarboxylic acids

摘要

An improved process, preferably continuous, for making a peroxyacid having about 6 to 18, preferably about 8 to 16 carbon atoms and at least one peroxyacid moiety, using as starting materials the corresponding carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide and using concentrated acid as the reaction medium, comprising the steps of (a) maintaining a reaction mixture having a liquid component comprising 60 to 80% concentrated acid, 2.5 to 12.5% hydrogen peroxide, and 7.5 to 37.5 % water and a dispersed solid component comprising crystals of the carboxylic acid starting material and peroxyacid product, the ratio of liquid to solids being from about 15:1 to about 49:1. Preferably the carboxylic acid is added as particles having a size of less than #100 mesh to a preformed solution of the concentrated acid and peroxide.