Published March 1992
This report, our third on the subject, presents an up-date of technological developments for the production of hydrogen peroxide since 1976, when PEP Report 68A1 was issued. We evaluate the following three processes:
- Conventional anthraquinone process, producing hydrogen peroxide via cyclic oxidation and hydrogenation operation
- Huron-Dow process, generating hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution by cathodic reduction of oxygen
- Du Pont process, producing hydrogen peroxide by direct combination of oxygen and hydrogen
We also present the economics of an ARCO process for comparison. This process, previously evaluated in PEP Review 90-1-2, produces hydrogen peroxide by oxidation of methyl benzyl alcohol.
Dioxin generated during pulp bleaching with chlorine has always created a waste disposal problem for the pulp and paper industry. For years, the industry has tried various alternative chemicals such as chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite and ozone to reduce or minimize pollution. A new technique that replaces chlorine with hydrogen peroxide as the principal oxidant in pulp bleaching has proven commercially successful.
Environmentally sound chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP) mills in Canada and elsewhere have attracted attention in the hydrogen peroxide industry; they also have created great concerns in the chlorine industry.
Other potential applications for hydrogen peroxide include waste treatment, bioreclamation, geothermal energy and aseptic packaging.
