Process for the production of aqueous solutions of pure lower aliphatic percarboxylic acids

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF A LOWER ALIPHATIC MONOPERCARBOXYLIC ACID INCLUDING THE REACTION OF THE CORRESPONDING ALIPHATIC MONOCARBOXYLIC ACID AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN THE LIQUID PHASE IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER AND AN ACID CATALYST, THE STEPS OF REACTING THE MONOCARBOXYLIC ACID AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER AND THE CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 20 AND 80*C. WHILE MAINTAINING A MOLAR RATIO OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE TO MONOCARBOXYLIC ACID IN THE REACTION MIXTURE BETWEEN ABOUT 5:1 AND DISTILLING THE MONOPERCARBOXYLIC ACID PRODUCED OFF FROM THE REACTION MIXTURE TOGETHER WITH WATER AT A TEMPERATURE BETWEEN ABOUT 20 AND 80*C. TO OBTAIN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF THE PURE MONOPERCARBOXYLIC ACID.