Direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide using TS-1 supported catalysts

HAADF images of 2.4% Au - 2.4% Pd - 0.2% Pt / TS-1 calcined sample

Credit: Dr Qian He

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a powerful, environmentally friendly industrial oxidant, which (in contrast to other common oxidising agents) produces only water as a by-product. H₂O₂ is primarily used for bleaching paper and textiles, and in chemical synthesis, and is increasingly being used to treat industrial waste in preference to oxidants containing chloride. Global demand for H₂O₂ is expected to exceed 5.5 million tons by 2020, with demand increasing at a rate of 4% per year. The rise in demand is mainly coming from the chemical synthesis industry, with H₂O₂ used in the production of propylene oxide and cyclohexanone oxime, key intermediates for the production of polymers.

Prof. Hutchings says,

The team were able to demonstrate the efficacy of TS-1 supported AuPd and AuPdPt catalysts for the direct synthesis of H₂O₂, and established a method for imparting catalyst stability via appropriate heat treatment while maintaining the MFI structure of the zeotype. They showed that, through the introduction of small concentrations of platinum into a supported AuPd/TS-1 catalyst, it is possible to significantly enhance catalytic selectivity towards H₂O₂, improving overall yields and representing a promising system to explore the direct synthesis of H₂O₂. This was the first stage of a project to develop a procedure to synthesise H₂O₂ in situ and then use it in chemical reactions. The work has been completed, and further papers will be published in due course.

To find out more about the electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC), or to discuss potential applications, please contact Principal Electron Microscopist Chris Allen: christopher.allen@diamond.ac.uk.