Percarboxylic acid solutions with improved stability when in contact with stainless steel and process for producing said percarboxylic acid solutions

摘要

Percarboxylic acid solutions, in particular aqueous equilibrium percarboxylic acid solutions, with improved stability when in contact with stainless steel and also a process for the production thereof. The percarboxylic acid solutions contain a percarboxylic acid having 1 to 12 C atoms and one or two peroxycarboxyl groups and are characterized by a content of polyphosphoric acid of the formula H.sub.n+ 2 P.sub.n O.sub.3n+ 1, in which n is greater than or equal to 2.3, in a quantity of 0.2 to 10 wt. %. These solutions are distinguished in comparison with known solutions by reduced corrosive action and reduced decomposition in the presence of stainless steel. The solutions are obtainable by reacting a carboxylic acid with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of polyphosphoric acid of the above-stated type and quantity as the catalyst.