Switching-off Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogenation in the Direct Synthesis Process

Published

February 20, 2009

Author(s)

Andrew A. Herzing, Jennifer Edwards, Benjamin Solsona, Edwin Ntainjua, Albert F. Carley, Graham J. Hutchings, Christopher J. Kiely

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide is an important disinfectant and bleach and is currently manufactured from an indirect process involving sequential hydrogenation/oxidation of anthraquinones. However, a direct process in which hydrogen and oxygen are reacted would be preferable. Unfortunately, catalysts for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide are also effective for its subsequent decomposition and hydrogenation and this has limited progress. We show that acid pre-treatment of a carbon support for gold-palladium alloy catalysts uniquely switches off the hydrogenation/decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Hence, when used in the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, the acid pre-treated catalysts give high yields of H2O2 with hydrogen selectivities >95%.

Citation

Science Magazine

Volume

323

Issue

5917

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

"hydrogen peroxide synthesis", "spherical aberration-correction", "STEM", "XEDS spectrum imaging , acid pre-treatment".

Citation

Herzing, A. , Edwards, J. , Solsona, B. , Ntainjua, E. , Carley, A. , Hutchings, G. and Kiely, C. (2009), Switching-off Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogenation in the Direct Synthesis Process, Science Magazine, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=900869 (Accessed October 10, 2025)