The Advantages of On-Site Hydrogen Peroxide Generation ...

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and chlorine are potent oxidizing agents used extensively across a myriad of industrial applications, including water treatment, disinfection processes, and bleaching in pulp and paper industries. Traditionally, these oxidizers are manufactured off-site and delivered to the user&#;s location. This traditional supply chain poses several challenges, including high transportation costs, storage difficulties, and potential safety risks. Recent advancements in technology, however, have made it feasible to produce these oxidizing agents on-site, leading to reduced costs and increased safety. Of these two options, on-site hydrogen peroxide generation, particularly by companies using no chemical inputs like HPNow, has shown promise in offering numerous advantages over on-site chlorine generation. 

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On-site Generation: An Overview 

On-site generation of oxidizing agents eliminates the need for transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals. For chlorine, on-site production usually employs the electrolysis of brine (sodium chloride) solution to produce sodium hypochlorite or hypochlorous acid, which is then dissolved in water to generate the necessary concentration of chlorine. 

In contrast, on-site generation of hydrogen peroxide can be accomplished using only water and electricity, without the need for additional chemicals. HPNow&#;s proprietary technology, for instance, utilizes a process based on advanced electrochemical cell design and catalytic reactions. This technology harnesses the power of electricity to split water molecules and recombine them into hydrogen peroxide, a process often referred to as the electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide. 

Safety and Environmental Considerations 

One of the key benefits of on-site H2O2 production is the superior safety profile and reduced environmental impact compared to on-site chlorine generation. Chlorine is highly toxic and poses a significant risk in case of leaks. In addition, a byproduct of chlorine electrolysis is hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable and requires of specialized ventilation and safety measures. Upon use, chlorine and its by-products have been implicated in numerous environmental issues. Chlorine can react with organic compounds to produce trihalomethanes (THMs) and other disinfection by-products (DBPs), which have potential health risks. 

On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide is a more environmentally friendly oxidizing agent. It decomposes naturally into water and oxygen, posing minimal environmental hazard. No disinfection by-products (DBPs) are produced. The on-site generation of hydrogen peroxide also reduces the risk of leaks associated with transportation, storage and handling, thereby enhancing safety. 

No Chemical Inputs 

On-site peroxide generation eliminates the need for any chemical inputs, as opposed to chlorine, which relies on salt or potassium chloride.  This is a consumable that needs to be managed. 

As on-site peroxide generation does not introduce salts into the water, users avoid any salt accumulation associated with the use of chlorine. This is very important in applications involving living beings (either plants, animals or humans), as the increased salinity can be harmful. Chlorine and its increased salinity can also have negative effects on materials, such as stainless steel, brass or plastics. In contrast, hydrogen peroxide has greater material compatibility, and does not cause corrosion on  plastics or stainless steel, contributing to a lower maintenance cost. 

Efficiency and Efficacy 

On-site generation of H2O2 also offers benefits in terms of efficiency and efficacy. The ability to produce H2O2 on-demand ensures a fresh supply of the oxidizing agent, eliminating concerns about degradation over time, which can be a challenge with stored chlorine. 

In terms of efficacy, studies have shown that hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties, allowing it to readily react with a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Furthermore, unlike chlorine, hydrogen peroxide does not form harmful disinfection by-products, making it a safer choice for many applications. 

Hydrogen peroxide also stands out as a superior bacteriostatic agent compared to chlorine, especially when it comes to preventing the growth of biofilm. Biofilm can lead to various issues such as reduced water flow, increased pathogen growth, and even equipment deterioration. In this regard, hydrogen peroxide&#;s exceptional efficacy in inhibiting biofilm formation makes it an excellent choice for applications where maintaining a clean and uncontaminated environment is crucial. 

Technological Advances 

In the past, on-site production of hydrogen peroxide faced challenges related to efficiency and safety. However, companies like HPNow have made significant strides in addressing these challenges. HPNow&#;s technology employs a direct electrochemical process that uses only electricity and water to generate H2O2, without the need for any additional chemicals. 

This technology is not only safe and environmentally friendly but also highly efficient, providing a reliable and consistent source of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, HPNow&#;s system is designed to be easily integrated into existing infrastructure, further enhancing its economic feasibility. 

Conclusion 

On-site generation of oxidizing agents provides significant benefits over traditional supply chains, particularly in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost. Among the on-site generation options, hydrogen peroxide holds clear advantages over chlorine, particularly when it is generated from only electricity and water. 

On-site H2O2 production offers superior safety, lower environmental impact, and a broad range of applications. Furthermore, advancements in technology, as exemplified by companies like HPNow, have made it possible to produce H2O2 on-site in a safe, efficient, and economically viable manner. 

As industries continue to seek safer, more environmentally friendly, and cost-effective solutions, on-site hydrogen peroxide generation will undoubtedly play an increasingly significant role in various applications. 

About HPNow 

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HPNow addresses growing global challenges in clean water and sanitation through its range of on-site, autonomous, safe and sustainable hydrogen peroxide generation solutions. Headquartered in Copenhagen, and with representation across Europe, the Americas and Asia, they address their clients&#; water treatment needs in market segments ranging from agriculture and aquaculture, to industrial and drinking water treatment. HPNow is a technology and market leader in on-site generation of hydrogen peroxide, and is continuously striving to further advance its technology and products in order to meet growing market needs and rising global demand.  

Green method could enable hospitals to produce hydrogen peroxide in house

San Diego, Calif., May 1,  -- A team of researchers has developed a portable, more environmentally friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide. It could enable hospitals to make their own supply of the disinfectant on demand and at lower cost.

The work, a collaboration between the University of California San Diego, Columbia University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the University of Calgary, and the University of California, Irvine, is detailed in a paper published in Nature Communications.

Hydrogen peroxide has recently made headlines as researchers and medical centers around the country have been testing its viability in decontaminating N95 masks to deal with shortages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While results so far are promising, some researchers worry that the chemical&#;s poor shelf life could make such decontamination efforts costly.

The main problem is that hydrogen peroxide is not stable; it starts breaking down into water and oxygen even before the bottle has been opened. It breaks down even more rapidly once it is exposed to air or light.

&#;You maybe only have just a couple of months to use it before it expires, so you would have to order batches more frequently to keep a fresh supply,&#; said UC San Diego nanoengineering professor Zheng Chen. &#;And because it decomposes so quickly, shipping and storing it become very expensive.&#;

Chen and colleagues developed a quick, simple and inexpensive method to generate hydrogen peroxide in house using just a small flask, air, an off-the-shelf electrolyte, a catalyst and electricity.

&#;Our goal is to create a portable setup that can be simply plugged in so that hospitals, and even households, have a way to generate hydrogen peroxide on demand,&#; Chen said. &#;No need to ship it, no need to store it, and no rush to use it all before it expires. This could save up to 50 to 70% in costs.&#;

Another advantage is that the method is less toxic than industrial processes.

The method is based on a chemical reaction in which one molecule of oxygen combines with two electrons and two protons in an acidic electrolyte solution to produce hydrogen peroxide. This type of reaction is known as the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction, and it is user-friendly because it can produce dilute hydrogen peroxide with the desired concentration on demand. &#;In the next step, we will develop electrocatalysts suitable for other electrolyte solutions to further increase the range of its applications,&#; said UC San Diego chemical engineering graduate student Qiaowan Chang.

The key to making this reaction happen is a special catalyst that the team developed. It is made up of carbon nanotubes that have been partially oxidized, meaning oxygen atoms have been attached to the surface. The oxygen atoms are bound to tiny clusters of three to four palladium atoms. These bonds between the palladium clusters and oxygen atoms are what enable the reaction to occur with a high selectivity and activity due to its optimal binding energy of the key intermediate during the reaction.

Columbia University chemical engineering professor Jingguang Chen said, &#;The coordination between oxygen-modified Pd cluster and the oxygen-containing functional groups on carbon nanotubes is the key to enhancing its catalytic performance.&#;

The team originally developed this method to make battery recycling processes greener. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the chemicals used to extract and recover metals like copper, nickel, cobalt and magnesium from used lithium-ion batteries. Similarly, it also makes the activation of hydrocarbon molecules more efficient, which is a critical step in many industrial chemical processes.

&#;We had been working on this project for about one and a half years. As we were wrapping things up, the COVID-19 pandemic hit,&#; Chen said. Seeing news reports about the use of hydrogen peroxide vapor to disinfect N95 masks for reuse motivated the team to pivot directions.

&#;We saw that there was a more pressing need for efforts to help health care workers who may not have sufficient protection while caring for patients suffering from the new coronavirus,&#; he said.

The work is at the proof-of-concept stage. Moving forward, the team will work on optimizing and scaling up the method for potential use in hospitals. Future studies include modifying the method so that it can be done using a neutral electrolyte (basically a salt solution) instead of an acidic one, which would be better for household and clinical applications, Chen said. Part of this continuing work is currently supported by UC San Diego&#;s Sustainable Power and Energy Center.

Paper title: &#;Promoting H2O2 Production via 2-Electron Oxygen Reduction by Coordinating Partially Oxidized Pd with Defect Carbon.&#; Co-authors include Qiaowan Chang, Pu Zhang and Hongpeng Gao, UC San Diego; Amir Hassan Bagherzadeh Mostaghimi and Samira Siahrostami, University of Calgary; Xueru Zhao, Brookhaven National Laboratory; Steven R. Denny, Ji Hoon Lee and Jingguang G. Chen, Columbia University; and Ying Zhang, Central South University, China.

This work was supported in part by the ACS Petroleum Research Fund (-DNI5), the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FG02-13ER) and the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

Article by Liezel Labios

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