Interox Chemicals Limited

Solvay Interox Gmbh

Kenneth T Rowbottom

William R Sanderson

Alexander Johnstone

Geoffrey J Hignett

Martin Jeff

Miranda Service

John N Wilkinson

Terence M Conboy

Graham V Hutson

Oxidation of alkylaromatics

Alkyl phosphates, undiluted or dissolved in hydrophobic solvents can be destroyed in situ by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of certain transition metal catalyst systems. The invention catalyst system comprises a chromium compound, which dissolves in the aqueous phase, typically an alkali metal chromate, which is employed in conjunction with introduction of an alkali, preferably sodium hydroxide, or in the presence of an alkali buffer to keep the pH of the aqueous phase within a window spanning mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH during the course of progressive introduction of the hydrogen peroxide, which often lasts from 3 to 10 hours, thereby enabling the oxidation of the alkyl phosphate to continue. The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature of at least 60.degree. C., and particularly at about 65.degree. to 75.degree. C., or at about the boiling point of the aqueous phase. The window becomes somewhat wider as the reaction temperature increases, the term mildly acidic indicating a pH of at least about pH 6 at around 70.degree. C. to at least pH 5 at around 100.degree. C. Preferably, the solution is maintained at a pH of from 6.5 to 7.5.

Method of decomposing alkyl phosphate

Increased energy costs have stimulated a demand for peroxygen compounds that are effective at ambient to hand-hot temperatures, but peroxyacids and acyl peroxides tend to suffer from one or more of poor thermal stability, or sensitivity to impact, thereby rendering their manufacture or storage hazardous, or from poor solubility. The instant invention provides a salt of the formula (in anhydrous form): ##STR1## The salt can be incorporated in low temperature bleaching compositions, in washing compositions, in sanitizing compositions or in disinfection/sterilization compositions.

Peroxygen compound

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Warrington, United Kingdom

Kenneth T Rowbottom