Production of lower aliphatic peracids

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR MAKING PERACETIC ACID WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF DIFFUSING MOLECULAR OXYGEN INTO ACETALDEHYDE AT A TEMPERATURE NOT HIGHER THAN 15*C. WHILE IRRADIATING THE ACETALDEHYDE WITH ULTRAVOILET LIGHT TO FORM ACETALDEHYDE MONOPERACETATE; THEREAFTER HEATING THE ACETALDEHYDE MONOPERACETATE UNDER REDUCED PRESURE AND AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 15*C. TO DECOMPOSE IT INTO PERACETIC ACID AND ACETALDHYDE AS A BY-PRODUCT, SUCH DECOMPOSITION OF THE ACETALDEHYDE MONOPERACETATE BEING CARRIED OUT CATALYTICALLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 50* C. IN THE PRSENCE OF AN ACIDIC ESTERIFICATION CATALYST; AND FORTHWITH, WHILE CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE ABOVE 15*C., SEPARATING IN VAPOR FORM FROM THE PERACETIC ACID THE BY-PRODUCT ACETALDEHYDE CONTINUOUSLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY AS IT IS PRODUCED IN THE DECOMPOSITION. 8.A PROCESS FOR MAKING PERACETIC ACID WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF FIRST FORMING AACETALDEHYDE MONOPERACETATE, BY OXIDIZING ACETALDEHYDE WITH MOLECULAR OXYGEN IN THE LIQUID PHASE AT A TEMPERATURE NOT HIGHER THAN 15*C., HEATING SAID ACETALDEHYDE MONOPERACETATE UNDER REDUCED PRESSURE TO A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 50*C. TO 250*C. TO VAPORIZE IT AND DECOMPOSE IT INTO ACETALDEHYDE AND PERACETIC ACID; AND SEPARATING THE ACETALDEHYDE FORTHWITH FROM THE PERACETIC ACID.