Patent ID: 8075857

Claim:
An apparatus for making peroxycarboxylic acid, comprising: a first pretreatment column, a first reaction catalyst column, a first and a second reagent vessel, a safety system, a reagent conduit, a reaction mixture conduit, and a peracid conduit; the second reagent vessel being in fluid communication through the reagent conduit with the first pretreatment column; the first reagent vessel being configured for containing a liquid oxidizing agent composition, the second reagent vessel being configured for containing a liquid carboxylic acid composition; the first pretreatment column being in fluid communication through the reaction mixture conduit with the first reaction catalyst column, the reagent conduit defining a mixing chamber for the reagents; the first pretreatment column being configured for removing metal ion from the carboxylic acid composition prior to mixing of the reagents in the reagent reaction mixture conduit that defines the mixing chamber for the reagents; the first reaction catalyst column being configured for catalyzing a reaction of the carboxylic acid and the oxidizing agent to produce peroxycarboxylic acid; the first reaction catalyst column being in fluid communication through the peracid conduit with a site of storage or use of a peroxycarboxylic acid composition; the safety system comprising a processor, a first condition sensor, and a second condition sensor; the first condition sensor being disposed in or on the mixing chamber and being configured for measuring a condition of the reagents; the second condition sensor being disposed at or in the first pretreatment column or in the reaction mixture conduit proximal an exit from the first pretreatment column and being configured for measuring the condition of the reagents; the processor being configured for determining a difference between the condition measured by the first condition sensor and the condition measured by the second condition sensor and providing a detectable signal if the difference meets or exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the first and second condition sensors are configured to measure pressure, metal content or a combination thereof.