Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a weakly acidic, colourless liquid, miscible with water in all proportions. It is the simplest peroxide and is commercially available in aqueous solution over a wide concentration range.
The main uses of hydrogen peroxide are in the preparation of other peroxides and as an oxidising agent mainly in pulp and paper bleaching.
Our manufacturing process involves the catalysis of the reaction of hydrogen (H2) with atmospheric oxygen (O2) to give H2O2. 2?Ethylanthraquinone (EAQ) is used as H2 carrier.
Consito developed know-how and technologies for production plants of hydrogen peroxide 35÷70%wt.
Hydrogen peroxide is manufactured using the 2?Ethylanthraquinone (EAQ) process. This process is a cyclic operation where EAQ is reused.
The synthesis loop consists of sequential hydrogenation, oxidation and extraction stages.
EAQ is dissolved in organic solvents, such mixture called "Working Solution" (WS) which is recycled.
Hydrogenation: EAQ dissolved in the WS is hydrogenated in presence of palladium catalyst to form 2?Ethyl-tetra-anthrahydroquinone (H4EAQ) and by-products.
Oxidation: after filtration to eliminate the palladium catalyst, the WS is oxidated by air to form the H4EAQ - hydroperoxide H4EAQ (OOH)2 and by-products.
Extraction: oxidated WS containing H4EAQ (OOH)2 is treated with demineralized water to destroy H4EAQ (OOH)2, obtaining hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous phase and H4EAQ in the WS.
Concentration of "crude" hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous phase is 37%wt.
Resulting WS is divided in two streams: the first, greater comes back again to the hydrogenation to repeat the cycle above described. The second is sent to regeneration.
Regeneration: the second stream is treated with a regeneration catalyst, activated alumina, to reconvert part of the by-products to H4EAQ.
After this treatment the treated WS comes back to hydrogenation at repeat the cycle above described.
Distillation: after washing, "crude" hydrogen peroxide is sent to the distillation to obtain the final product with a concentration up to 70%wt.
After distillation, hydrogen peroxide concentration is 35÷70%wt.
Referred to 1 metric ton of finished product (100% basis):
| Feedstock & utilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| EAQ | kg | 1 |
| Solvents | kg | 5 |
| Reconversion catalyst | kg | 8 |
| Hydrogenation catalyst | kg | 0.05 |
| Hydrogen | Nm3 | 720 |
| Demi water | m3 | 3 |
| Cooling water | m3 | 220 |
| Electric power | kWh | 700 |
| Steam | kg | 600 |