Performic Peracetic Acid Solution Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peroxy acid solutions, particularly performic acid, are unstable and explosive at higher concentrations, limiting their safe handling and storage, while their high reactivity makes them unsuitable for widespread industrial applications, and existing methods for preparing stable solutions are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A process involving mixing acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide in specific molar ratios, allowing up to 20% replacement with formic acid, and using common peroxide stabilizers to create stable, concentrated solutions of performic acid and peracetic acid, which can be stored for weeks without significant decomposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If concentrated performic acid solutions are prepared to enhance disinfection power, then the disinfection effectiveness is improved, but the solution becomes unstable and explosive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines performic acid and peracetic acid in a single solution, where the peracetic acid acts as a stabilizing component. This merging allows the solution to maintain high disinfection power from performic acid while gaining stability from peracetic acid, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite peroxy acid solution system where two different peroxy acids (performic and peracetic) are combined in specific proportions. This composite approach leverages the high reactivity of performic acid for disinfection while using peracetic acid to provide structural stability to the overall solution
2Reliability
If pure performic acid solutions are used to maximize disinfection power, then the antimicrobial effectiveness is improved, but the safety and handling become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
Peracetic acid serves as an intermediary substance in the solution. It moderates the extreme reactivity and instability of performic acid, making the overall solution safer for handling and storage while still maintaining the high disinfection power needed for effective antimicrobial action
3Stability of the object's composition
If formic acid is replaced with acetic acid in the reaction mixture, then the solution stability is improved, but the disinfection power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solution employs local quality differentiation by having performic acid (derived from formic acid) provide high reactivity and disinfection power in specific portions of the solution, while peracetic acid (derived from acetic acid) provides stability in other portions. This spatial and functional differentiation allows both stability and effectiveness to coexist
4Productivity
If high concentrations of peroxy acids are prepared to reduce solution volume, then the productivity is improved, but the handling safety and storage stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a composite solution of performic and peracetic acids in optimized ratios, the invention achieves high concentration (improving productivity) while the peracetic acid component prevents the solution from becoming too unstable for safe handling and storage
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting solutions are stable for storage, offer enhanced disinfection power, and provide a safer alternative to pure performic acid solutions, suitable for industrial applications such as microbial control and pulp bleaching, with improved safety and reduced equipment corrosion risk.
Implementation Method 1
A process for the preparation of a solution comprising a first peroxy acid comprising performic acid and a second peroxy acid by forming a carboxylic acid solution comprising a first carboxylic acid comprising formic acid, a second carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide and allowing the components to react
Implementation Method 2
using common peroxide stabilizers to create stable, concentrated solutions of performic acid and peracetic acid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a solution comprising a first peroxy acid comprising performic acid and a second peroxy acid, said process comprising forming a carboxylic acid solution comprising a first carboxylic acid comprising formic acid, a second carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, wherein the amount of formic acid is from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the amount of the second carboxylic acid, and allowing the components to react to form a solution comprising performic acid and said second peroxy acid, the amount of peroxy acids being at least 5% by weight. The invention also relates to a storable solution comprising performic acid and said second peroxy acid. The solution can be used as a disinfecting agent for controlling micro-organisms.