Process for making peracids by the oxidation of aldehydes

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PERACETIC ACID BY THE VAPOR PHASE REACTION OF OXYGEN AND ACETALDEHYDE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES EFFECTING SAID REACTION IN A REACTOR HAVING INTERNAL SURFACES CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN INERT MATERIAL WHOSE INERTNESS IS DEFINED BY THE FAILURE OF SAID MATERIAL TO REDUCE THE RATIO OF PERACETIC ACID TO ACETIC ACID BY MORE THAN 50% WHEN TESTED BY THE INSERTION OF A STRIP OF SAID MATERIAL INTO AN ALUMINUM REACTOR MAINTAINED UNDER ACETALDEHYDE-OXYGEN VAPOR PHASE REACTION CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD, IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID STRIP, PRODUCE A PERACETIC ACID TO ACETIC ACID MOLE RATIO IN EXCESS OF 10, SAID STRIP OF MATERIAL BEING TESTED HAVING A SURFACE AREA EQUAL TO THAT OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID ALUMINUM TEST REACTOR.