Removal of dialkyl ethers from dialkyl peroxides

1. A process for reducing the concentration of a dialkyl ether in a mixture comprising the dialkyl ether and a dialkyl peroxide comprising treating said mixture with a strong acid.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the strong acid is a mineral acid.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the mineral acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the acid strength of the sulfuric acid is in the range of from about 10% to about 50%.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the strong acid to the dialkyl peroxide being purified is in the range from about 10:1 to about 1:10.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the treatment is carried out at a temperature less than or equal to about 50° C.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the treatment is carried out at room temperature.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the two alkyl groups of the dialkyl ether are independently selected from those having from one to five carbon atoms.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the two alkyl groups of the dialkyl peroxide are independently selected from those having from one to five carbon atoms.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein the dialkyl ether is methyl t-butyl ether and the dialkyl peroxide is di-t-butyl peroxide.

12. A process for reducing the concentration of methyl t-butyl ether in a mixture comprising said ether and di-t-butyl peroxide comprising treating said mixture at room temperature with sulfuric acid having an acid strength in the range of from about 10% to about 50%.