Abb Lummus Crest, Inc.

Nitrocarbono S.a.

Edilberto A De Castro Netro

George Ember

Rogerio F De Lacerda

A secondary carbon atom in an alkane, including alkyl groups attached to aromatic rings, or cycloalkane is peroxidized by molecular oxygen to the corresponding hydroperoxide in the absence of a catalyst. The peroxidation is carried out in the presence of a tertiary hydroperoxide initiator which provides the free radicals needed to maintain the reaction. The amount of tertiary alcohol in the initiator is limited. The initial product of the peroxidation contains the secondary hydroperoxide as well as unreacted hydrocarbon, unreacted tertiary hydroperoxide and tertiary alcohol. The tertiary alcohol is removed as an azeotrope with part of the unreacted hydrocarbon which may be then separated from the alcohol and recycled. A second azeotropic distillation follows where the unreacted tertiary hydroperoxide is removed as an azeotrope with the rest of the unreacted hydrocarbon. This azeotrope is directly recycled to the peroxidation reaction.

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Bahia, Brazil

Edilberto A De Castro Netro