Affiliation:
1. University of British Columbia
Abstract
Abstract
Industrial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is synthesized using carbon-intensive H2 gas production and purification, anthraquinone hydrogenation, and anthrahydroquinone oxidation. Electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of anthraquinones offers a carbon-neutral alternative for generating H2O2 using renewable electricity and water instead of H2 gas. However, ECH has not yet had an impact on the industry because H2O2 formation rates are too low for commercialization. We report here that a membrane reactor enabled us to hydrogenate anthraquinone (0.25 molar) with a current efficiency of > 80% at current densities of 75 milliamperes per square centimeter. We also demonstrate continuous H2O2 synthesis from the hydrogenated anthraquinones over the course of 48 hours. This study represents the fastest rates of electrochemical anthraquinone hydrogenation ever reported (1.32 ± 0.14 millimoles per hour normalized per centimeter squared of geometric surface of electrode), and provides a pathway toward carbon-neutral H2O2 synthesis.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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