SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate the use of redox polymer electrodes for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide through electrochemical regeneration of redox catalyst. Hydrogen peroxide is a clean oxidant with water as its reaction product. It is therefore environmentally acceptable in many industries. The market for peroxide in North America is expected to grow by 10% over the next five years. The existing plants are operating to their full capacity and new plants are needed to meet future demand. New technology using aqueous system that can replace the commercial anthraquinone process (using non-aqueous solvents) is desirable for the expansion. This project involves the use of redox polymer catalysts for synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in a single reaction step through combined electrochemical and chemical reactions. The Phase I proposal work includes preparation of a stable redox polymer catalyst for the production of hydrogen peroxide from oxygen or air and water. Redox polymers will be characterized using IR and electrochemical techniques (voltammetry, rotating disc experiments). A laboratory cell of simple design will be operated in the Phase I to demonstrate the process and measure peroxide production efficiencies. The existing plants are operating to their full capacity and new plants are needed to meet future demand for production of peroxide. New technology using aqueous system that can replace the commercial anthraquinone process (using non-aqueous solvents) is desirable for the expansion. The outcome of the Phase I research would result in new process for both on site and central manufacturing facility.

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will investigate the use of redox catalyst electrodes for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide through electrochemical regeneration of the redox catalyst. In the Phase I research, catalysts were developed and their short-term stability for peroxide synthesis was successfully demonstrated. Flow cell operation with 10 cm2 electrode cells showed the preparation of hydrogen peroxide in acidic condition (1N H2SO4) at 60% current efficiency and up to 2% in peroxide concentration. However, Phase I work indicated poor catalytic current with oxygen for these redox systems, as well as an upper limit for hydrogen peroxide concentration (2%). Phase II research effort will be directed towards improving the catalytic effect of these redox catalysts through changes in preparative procedures, electrode structure, and fabrication technique. The electrodes will be tested and optimized for peroxide synthesis using oxygen/air and almost pure water (pH adjusted, if necessary) using flow cell experiments. The electrodes will be tested for long-tem stability (500 hours). Larger electrodes (100cm2 ) will be fabricated using the best composite electrode for long-term stability testing and process optimization. Commercialization of the process will be carried out with a Phase III partner upon the successful completion of Phase II work. Potential Commercial Application of the Research Hydrogen peroxide is a clean oxidant, which reacts to form water as its reaction product. It is therefore environmentally acceptable in many industries. The market for hydrogen peroxide is expected to grow by almost 10% for the next few years. New technology (synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from water and air) described in this Phase II proposal could be implemented for various applications. These areas include wastewater treatment, on-site generation (for industrial and consumer application such laundry bleach etc.), as well as commercial peroxide production.