Electrochemical flow reactors for hydrogen peroxide synthesis

摘要

A method of electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution comprises supplying a solution containing dissolved oxygen to an electrolytic cell having an anode 20, a carbon cathode 10 with a catalyst immobilised thereon and a continuous path through the solution between the anode and the cathode, and applying electrical potential to the cathode (10, 30) to cause catalysed reduction of dissolved oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. The catalyst may be covalently bound to the cathode and may be a quinone. The cell may comprise a reference electrode 22 and electrical potential may be supplied to the cathode to maintain it at a controlled potential relative to the reference electrode. The solution is preferably made to flow through the cell to contact both the anode and the cathode. A majority portion of the solution flowing into the cell may be directed into a stream passing over the cathode (30, figure 3) and a minority portion directed to a stream passing over the anode (50) and rejoining the majority portion.