Investigation of peracetic acid production in the presence of different catalysts and under different reaction conditions

Due to the inadequacy of traditional cleaning methods, various chemicals are used for disinfection in hospital environments. However, these disinfectants can be harmful if exposed to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Therefore, it is important to use chemicals at the correct concentrations and according to instructions. The inability of state-of-the-art products to be suitable for steam sterilization has encouraged the development of sterilization methods at lower temperatures. Peracetic acid is a preferred disinfectant because it is environmentally friendly, fast-acting, and compatible with most materials, but parameters such as stability and corrosive effects need to be optimized. In this study, the amounts of peracetic acid synthesized under different catalyst presence and conditions were determined by titrimetric method, and the results were examined using BoxBehnken experimental design surface methodology. Optimization was performed using the Box-Behnken design, and the properties of peracetic acid were analyzed using characterization methods such as FTIR and GC. A more stable solution was prepared with the synthesized peracetic acid, and activity measurements were provided through analyses such as cuvette lifespan, residue, corrosion, and material compatibility. In the homogeneous kinetic model prepared for the synthesis of peracetic acid (PAA) from acetic acid (AA) and hydrogen peroxide (HP), syntheses were carried out using an acid catalyst. Due to the use of different catalysts, analyses of two separate experimental combinations offered by the Box-Behnken experimental design surface methodology with sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid were conducted to determine the experimental conditions to reach the maximum amount of peracetic acid. Activity measurements were conducted by preparing a more stable solution with the synthesized peracetic acid. It was observed that solutions prepared with a sulfuric acid catalyst remained stable for 14 days, whereas the solution prepared with a phosphoric acid catalyst had lower effectiveness. To check material compatibility, plates made of glass, ceramic, stainless steel, and plastic were immersed in the solution for 30 days, and no deformation was observed. Residue analyses after disinfection showed no detectable peracetic acid on steel surfaces, while a very small amount of peracetic acid was detected on the plastic plate. Aluminum plates were analyzed to observe the corrosive effect of the solutions on materials, and although no visual deformation was observed, there was an average decrease of 0.36 g in plate weight. According to the Box-Behnken experimental design program, in the initially generated design, by selecting the experimental parameters as Sulfuric Acid Concentration 10.9%, Temperature 48.8°C, and Molar Ratio 2.01, a maximum of 8.80% peracetic acid was synthesized from 17 different experiments to achieve maximum peracetic acid synthesis. When the use of phosphoric acid is considered, it is observed that lower proportions are achieved compared to peracetic acid synthesis with sulfuric acid catalysis, according to the amounts of synthesized peracetic acid and the results of the Box-Behnken experimental design.