Electrochemical peroxide generator

摘要

In the disclosed electrochemical cell for the production of an alkaline solution of peroxide, especially on-site production, the electrolyte is divided into an aqueous alkaline catholyte and an aqueous alkaline anolyte, and the cathode is a gas-diffusion electrode. The active material of the electrolyte side of the gas-diffusion cathode comprises a particulate catalyst support material having a surface area of about 50 to about 2000 m2/g, and, deposited on the particles of this support material, 0.1 to 50 weight-%, based on the weight of the active layer, of gold or gold alloy poly-crystal particles having an average size >/=5 but less than about 20 nanometers. These poly-crystal gold or gold alloy particles have a structure consisting essentially of combined individual monocrystals and are substantially selectively catalytic for the reduction of oxygen to peroxide ion or hydrogen peroxide (e.g. HOO theta ). The electrolyte flow patterns are designed to avoid loss of peroxide resulting from oxidation at the anode. In the operation of the cell, a product with a hydroxyl:perhydroxyl ratio less than 2:1 can be obtained.