The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from H2 and O2 using Pd-Ni/TiO2 catalysts: Pd-Ni catalysts for H 2 O 2 production

David A. Crole, Ricci Underhill, Jennifer K. Edwards, Greg Shaw, Simon J. Freakley, Graham J. Hutchings, Richard J. Lewis

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25 Citations (SciVal)
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Abstract

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from molecular H2 and O2 offers an attractive, decentralized alternative to production compared to the current means of production, the anthraquinone process. Herein we evaluate the performance of a 0.5%Pd-4.5%Ni/TiO2 catalyst in batch and flow reactor systems using water as a solvent at ambient temperature. These reaction conditions are considered challenging for the synthesis of high H2O2 concentrations, with the use of sub-ambient temperatures and alcohol co-solvents typical. Catalytic activity was observed to be stable to prolonged use in multiple batch experiments or in a flow system, with selectivities towards H2O2 of 97% and 85%, respectively. This study was carried out in the absence of halide or acid additives that are typically used to inhibit sequential H2O2 degradation reactions showing that this Pd-Ni catalyst has the potential to produce H2O2 selectively. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Science to enable the circular economy'.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberrsta20200062
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalPhilosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Volume378
Issue number2176
Early online date6 Jul 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2020

Funding

Data accessibility. Information on the data underpinning the results presented here, including how to access them, can be found at http://doi.org/10.17035/d.2020.0101908221. Authors’ contributions. All authors provided substantial contributions to the conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content and final approval of the version to be published. Competing interests. The authors declare no competing interests. Funding. D.A.C. and R.U. wish to acknowledge the Selden Research Limited for financial support. J.K.E, G.S., G.J.H. and R.J.L. gratefully acknowledge the Cardiff University for financial support, in addition S.J.F. acknowledges the financial support and the award of a Prize Research Fellowship from the from the University of Bath. Acknowledgments. The authors wish to acknowledge the Selden Research Limited for useful discussion throughout.

Keywords

  • green chemistry
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • nanoparticles
  • nickel
  • palladium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Mathematics
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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