THE THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF PERACETIC ACID IN THE VAPOR PHASE

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of peracetic acid in a stream of toluene was studied over the temperature range 127–360 °C. The main products of the reaction were CO2, CH3COOH, C2H6, CH4, HCHO, O2, and traces of CO. Dibenzyl was also formed.The overall decomposition of peracetic acid was partly heterogeneous and was represented by the two parallel primary reactions[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]The dissociation energy of the O—O bond in peracetic acid was estimated to be 30–34 kcal/mole.