Abstract: Peracetic acid is prepared on-site and on-demand in a continuous process and at a controlled rate to meet the demand of a downstream operation. In one aspect, a continuous tank reactor is used to produce quantities of peracetic acid at a controlled rate in liquid or vapor form. In another aspect, the use of super acid catalysts enhances the production of peracetic acid under milder conditions, for example, than those typically encountered when using sulfuric acid catalysts alone.

Abstract: Peracetic acid in aqueous liquid solution or vapor phase is prepared on-site and on-demand in a continuous process. Peracetic acid can be produced at a controlled rate to meet the demands of a downstream operation. In one embodiment, a pipe-line reactor and distillation column is used for the production of peracetic acid. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a continuous pot reactor and distillation column for producing peracetic acid. The present invention has the potential of providing a much safer source of aqueous peracetic acid than currently available processes, due in part to the limited inventories of reactants in the reactor, particularly those in the vapor phase.