Improvement of a process for preparing peracetic acid by the reaction of acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions, catalyzed by ion-exchange resins

The effect of Amberlyst 15Dry™ cation-exchange resin on the reaction of peracetic acid formation from acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution was studied. The pathways of available oxygen consumption were determined. The noncatalytic synthesis is accompanied by spontaneous decomposition of the peracid formed, which sharply decelerates on introducing Amberlyst 15Dry catalyst into the reaction mixture. Comparison of the kinetic relationships of the processes occurring in batch and flow-through reactors shows that in the latter case the process is characterized by diffusion hindrance. A kinetic model of the process with the parameters ensuring adequate mathematical description of the data obtained was suggested.