Hydrogen Peroxide and Peracetic Acid

The purpose of this report �is to present the economics of producing peracetic acid by liquid phase oxidation of acetaldehyde, catalyzed by pyromellitic acid. This process was recently developed by the National Chemical Laboratory for Industry (NCL) of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology in Japan.

The economics of producing peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide were the subject of Process Economics Program Report 68. The peracetic acid processes evaluated in the original report included the one-step liquid phase oxidation of acetaldehyde developed by Wacker and commercialized by Daicel of Japan, the two-step liquid phase oxidation of acetaldehyde developed and commercialized by Union Carbide, and the vapor phase oxidation of acetaldehyde developed by British Celanese and commercialized by Oxiran Chemical. The economics of these processes are updated in the current report.

The economics of producing hydrogen peroxide by the anthraquinone and the isopropanol autoxidation processes are also updated. The anthraquinone process was developed by several companies and about 80% of the world�s hydrogen peroxide output is made by this process. The isopropanol autoxidation process was developed and commercialized by Shell Chemical.

Other PEP Related Reports:

• Hydrogen Peroxide and Peracetic Acid 68
• Hydrogen Peroxide 68B