Method of manufacturing hydrogen peroxide

摘要

A process for producing hydrogen peroxide wherein a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and oxygen is contacted with a catalyst in the presence of water and an organic solvent wherein: (i) the organic solvent is immiscible with water and unreactive with hydrogen peroxide under the contacting conditions; (ii) the distribution coefficient for hydrogen peroxide between the water and the organic solvent is greater than 1; (iii) the catalyst is of the formula L2MX2 wherein L is a ligand represented by the formula A R1 R2 R3 wherein R1 R2 and R3 are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups, hydrogen or halogen, A is a Group 5b element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous and arsenic, M is a Group 8 metal and X is halogen, said catalyst being soluble in said organic solvent and insoluble in water; and (iv) the gaseous mixture is non-ignitable under the process conditions characterized in that the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbons, halofluorocarbons and mixtures thereof.