Gas-Phase Oxidation of Acetaldehyde Into Peracetic Acid.

A study was made of this oxidation reaction in a wide range of temperatures and reagent ratios in an effort to ascertain the effect of the conditions under which the process is carried out on the selectivity of the formation of peracetic acid. It was found that the reaction rate increases substantially with an increase in the acetaldehyde concentration in the initial mixture. The possibility of introducing additional oxygen as the reaction progresses to replace the oxygen consumed is investigated. It is shown that in this case a reaction gas with a high concentration of peracetic acid is formed while avoiding the danger of explosion.