Conjoint production of ditertiary butyl peroxide and tertiary butyl alcohol from tertiary butyl hydroperoxide

In a method wherein a solution of a tertiary butyl hydroperoxide charge stock in tertiary butyl alcohol that contains from about 5 to about 30 wt. % of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide is brought into contact with a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst in a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone in liquid phase under hydroperoxide conversion conditions including a temperature within the range of about 40.degree. to about 160.degree. C. and a pressure of about 0 to about 10,000 psig to convert said tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide, the improvement which comprises:

• a) using, as said hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst, a catalyst consisting essentially of about 0.1 to about 1 wt. % of palladium supported on pelleted carbon, and
• b) recovering tertiary butyl alcohol and ditertiary butyl peroxide from the products of said hydroperoxide decomposition reaction.