Determination of peracids in the presence of a large excess of hydrogen peroxide using a rapid and convenient spectrophotometric method

Abstract

Peracids can be determined in the presence of up to a 1000-fold excess of hydrogen peroxide by taking advantage of the much greater rate of reaction of the peracid with iodide. A fast, convenient and accurate spectrophotometric method is described that involves a simple linear extrapolation. The effects of a number of experimental variables on the accuracy, precision, sensitivity and selectivity of the method are described. The method has been applied to the determination of the peracetic acid formed during the perhydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate.