Production
Peracetic acid is produced industrially by the autoxidation of acetaldehyde:
- O2 + CH3CHO → CH3CO3H
It forms upon treatment of acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide, the equilibrium constant being 0.37 at room temperature:
- H2O2 + CH3CO2H CH3CO3H + H2O
As an alternative, acetyl chloride and acetic anhydride can be used to generate a solution of the acid with lower water content.
Peracetic acid is generated in situ by some laundry detergents. This route involves the reaction of tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) in the presence of an alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution. The peracetic acid is a more effective bleaching agent than hydrogen peroxide itself. PAA is also formed naturally in the environment through a series of photochemical reactions involving formaldehyde and photo-oxidant radicals.
Peracetic acid is always sold in solution with acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide to maintain the stability of the peracid. The concentration of the acid as the active ingredient can vary.
Read more about this topic: Peracetic Acid
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—Karl Marx (1818–1883)