Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

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In the following we shall study a model system for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) over a heterogeneous catalyst containing a hypothetical metal M. It is proposed to split the reaction into the following elementary steps, which are all assumed to be in quasi-equilibrium except for step 3, which is assumed to be the rate-limiting step ... 

Great promise exists in the use of graphitic carbons in the electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide [reaction (15.21)] and in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to various organic products. Considering the diversity in structures and surface forms of carbonaceous materials, it is difficult to formulate generalizations as to the influence of their chemical and electron structure on the kinetics and mechanism of electrochemical reactions occurring at carbon electrodes. 

The electronic theory furnishes, as we have already seen, a general recipe for the consideration of heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions. This recipe was obtained in Section I of the present article. In Sections III, IV, and V it was applied to the reactions of hydrogen-deuterium exchange, oxidation of CO, and synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, respectively. These are the most thoroughly studied photocatalytic reactions. 

Hessel V, Hofmann C, Lob P, Lohndorf J, Lowe H, Ziogas A (2005) Aqueous Kolbe-Schmitt synthesis using resorcinol in a microreactor laboratory rig under high-P,T conditions. Org Process Res Dev 9 479-489 Inoue T, Schmidt MA, Jensen KF (2007) Microfabricated multiphase reactors for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen. Ind Eng Chem Res 46 1153-1160... 

J. Van Weynbergh, J.-P. Schoebrichts, and J.- C. Colery, Direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide by heterogeneous catalysis, catalyst for the said synthesis and method of preparation of the said catalyst, US Pat. 5447706 (1995). 

R. Meiers, and W. F. Holderich, Epoxidation of propylene and direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide by hydrogen and oxygen, Catal. Lett. 59, 161-163 (1999). 

A variety of publications on the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide have appeared during the years, but will not be discussed further in this review. 

Scheme 7 Catalytic cycle for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from dioxygen...

In 2002, Hutchings began working on the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, a process with well-known problems of selectivity, where the efficiency of gold made it possible to manage safe conditions [23]. 

The synthesis of hydrogen peroxide by noncatalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of propane was studied using the conventional flow reactor. 

Direct Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide Recent Advances... 

Direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from its elements is thermodynamically feasible and it is a known reaction from the beginning of the last century [11], However, intense research activity in many companies on the direct synthesis of H202 only began in 1980. Some 100 patents were issued in the 1980s and 1990s from companies such as Air Products, BASF, Dow Chemicals, Du Pont, ENI, Eka Nobel, FMC, Solvay Interox, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Shell. Table 8.2 summarizes some selected comparative results. 

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