Chemical synthesis

Hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are powerful and environmentally benign oxidizing agents that have found many uses in the chemical industry for the manufacturing of organic compounds. Due to its low molecular weight, hydrogen peroxide is a more efficient oxidizing agent pound per pound than potassium dichromate and permanganate. Hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are stable and safe chemicals when handled correctly and offer the advantage of being soluble in water, in many organic solvents, or in the substrate itself. Last but not least, they have an environmentally benign profile since they decompose to just water and oxygen, or water, oxygen and acetic acid, respectively, as reaction by-products.

The various applications where hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid are used as oxidizing agents of choice include the following examples in chemical synthesis:

• Organic peroxide initiators (e.g. MEK peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, lauryl peroxide)
• Epoxidized soybean oil plasticizers (fatty acid epoxidation)
• Flame retardants (bromination)
• Catechol production (hydroxylation)
• Amine oxide surfactants (N-oxidation)
• Herbicide production (S-, N-oxidation)
• Percarboxylic acid production (e.g. peracetic acid)
• Penicillin-precursor production (N-oxidation)
• Epoxides/diols

We have broad expertise in the chemistry of these applications and offer an extensive line of specialty grades for use in chemical synthesis. Our PERSYNT^® and PERACLEAN^® grades have been found to be superior over technical grades in epoxidation and hydroxylation reactions. Our hydrogen peroxide special grades can be excellent selections in chemical oxidation reactions where high stability is required, but standard stabilizers are detrimental and can cause operational problems.

High-purity grade hydrogen peroxide is used in the manufacturing of organic peroxides where low impurity levels are required for good product stability and shelf life.

We have also capabilities for the tailor-made synthesis of epoxides and 1,2 vicinal diols on industrial scale by using the epoxidation technique with hydrogen peroxide up to 84 percent, peracetic acid up to 40 percent, and in-situ generated performic acid. We are well experienced in handling olefins and terpenes and to produce the corresponding oxiranes (epoxides) or vicinal diols after opening the oxirane ring. The plant in Weissenstein, Austria is equipped to handle flammable liquids and also offers toll manufacturing according to your requirements.

Please visit our section on hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid for more industry and application details.