Hydrogen Peroxide Generation in Divided-Cell Trickle Bed Electrochemical Reactor

A divided-cell trickle bed electrochemical reactor (TBER) with a porous cathode composed of carbon black and polytetrafluoroethylene was developed for generation of hydrogen peroxide. An important feature of the reactor is a divided cathode of different cells made with stainless steel mesh. This division into a sectional cathode resulted in a concentration of hydrogen peroxide that is more than twice that produced in an undivided cathode. The much improved performance was attributed to the even distribution of electrolyte and oxygen in the cathode bed, as well as an effective mass transport of oxygen from the gas phase to the electrolyte cathode interface. Hydrogen peroxide generation was demonstrated from electrochemically reducing oxygen in concentrated alkaline electrolyte solutions using the TBER. Factors for the hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis were systematically studied, including cell potential, electrolyte flow rates and concentrations, temperatures, and the number of cells.