Hydrogen peroxide electrochemical process

Hydrogen peroxide, which is produced worldwide in quantities of 800,000 tpa is manufactured by wet-chemical processes based on barium peroxide, electrochemical processes and organic autoxidation processes. Hydrogen peroxide production by autoxidation was developed to industrial viability by BASF in the 1930 s, in the form of the hydrazobenzene process. The hydrazobenzene process, however, was characterized by the disadvantage that sodium amalgam had to be used to reduce azobenzene to hydrazobenzene. Georg Pfleiderer and Hans-Joachim Riedl then used alkylated anthraquinones in place of azobenzene. The first plant to use this process to produce H2O2 was started in Memphis, Tenn. by Du Pont in 1953. 

Many electroless coppers also have extended process Hves. Bailout, the process solution that is removed and periodically replaced by Hquid replenishment solution, must still be treated. Better waste treatment processes mean that removal of the copper from electroless copper complexes is easier. Methods have been developed to eliminate formaldehyde in wastewater, using hydrogen peroxide (qv) or other chemicals, or by electrochemical methods. Ion exchange (qv) and electro dialysis methods are available for bath life extension and waste minimi2ation of electroless nickel plating baths (see... 

Maltol. Otsuka Chemical Co. in Japan has operated several electroorganic processes on a small commercial scale. It has used plate and frame and aimular cells at currents in the range of 4500—6000 A (133). The process for the synthesis of maltol [118-71 -8], a food additive and flavor enhancer, starts from furfural [98-01-1] (see Food additives Flavors and spices). The electrochemical step is the oxidation of a-methylfurfural to give a cycHc acetal. The remaining reaction sequence is acid-catalyzed ring expansion, epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide, and then acid-catalyzed rearrangement to yield maltol, ie ... 

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide is a very interesting process which has not suffered the expected development due to its... 

The production of industrially important perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids is generally accomplished by electrochemical fluorination. This method of preparation remains expensive and proceeds in good yields only for short hydrocarbon chains.30 Recently however, Wakselman and Tordeux have described a chemical method for the preparation of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid.31 The procedure involves reaction of a metal selected from zinc, cadmium, manganese, and aluminum with sulfur dioxide in DMF, followed by the introduction of trifluoromethyl bromide under slight pressure. The intermediate sulfinate is subsequently oxidized by hydrogen peroxide, and then hydrolyzed which leads to formation of the trifluoromethane sulfonic acid. Successful extension of the sulfination process to the modification of PCTFE should result in the formation of a sulfinated polymer which can ultimately be oxidized to give a sulfonic-acid modified polymer. 

Foller PC, Bombard RT. Processes for the production of mixtures of caustic soda and hydrogen peroxide via the reduction of oxygen. J Appl Electrochem 1995 25 613-627. 

Wellmann J, Steckhan E. Indirect electrochemical processes 2. Electro-catalytic direct oxidation of aromatic compounds by hydrogen peroxide. Chem Ber 1977 110 3561-3571. 

Formerly, before the electrochemical process was introduced, hydrogen peroxide was produced solely by the reaction of acids with peroxides, usually barium peroxide and sulphuric acid ... 

---