Research

Energy Sciences

Title :

Design and development of electrodes to generate hydrogen peroxide

Area of research :

Chemical Sciences, Energy Sciences

Focus area :

Energy Conversion and related devices

Principal Investigator :

Dr S. Ravichandran, Scientist, CSIR-Central Electro Chemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Tamil Nadu

Timeline Start Year :

2020

Timeline End Year :

2022

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Objective: To develop green and clean process to generate hydrogen peroxide via electrochemical method; To develop suitable anode and precise cathode catalysts for water oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions; Design of electrochemical cell and its evaluation suitable for continuous generation of hydrogen peroxide.

Summary: Hydrogen peroxide is used in all sectors such as in the chemical industry and for disnification. The advantage of H2O2 is the degradation product is only water. And hence it is considered as eco-friendly or green oxidant. Althrough there are several methods to synthesis H2O2 the Anthraquinone oxidation (AO) process is the most suitable method for bulk synthesis [1-2]. However, Anthraquinone dissolved in organic solvents followed by liquid-liquid extraction. In addition, AO process is a multi step method that requires considerable energy input and generated waste, which has a harmful effect on its sustainablity and production costs. The transport, storage, and handling of bulk H2O2 involve risk and rising expenses. To take advantage of the full potential of H2O2 synthesis, reserchers are developed direct synthesis of H2O2 from its element H2 and O2 through a catalytic process [3-5]. The major drawback associated with this process is that the H2/O2 mixtures are explosive over a wide range of concentration. Therefore, electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide via oxygen reduction is currently an active area of research. The production of Hydrogen peroxide in alkaline conditions by trickle-bed electrolytic cell is less attracted since the peroxide generated in the form of salt and it can be decompose to water easily. Hence, we propose novel. clcaner electrochemical methods will be explored for the production pf H2O2[6-12].

Organizations involved