H2O2 Technology

1.

General Description

Today, hydrogen peroxide is manufactured almost exclusively by the Riedl-Pfleiderer or

anthraquinone process which was patented in 1939 in Germany. The method is also called the
auto-oxidation process or the AO process:
In this method, the hydrogen peroxide is manufactured by the circulation of an
organic working solution (consisting of different solvents
and 2-ethyl anthraquinone, which is the active chemical). The
working solution is hydrogenated and oxidized, after which
the product is extracted using a very pure water.
Hydrogenation
Hydrogen gas is added to the working solution in the
presence of a Pd metal catalyst. The hydrogen is chemically
bonded to the 2-ethyl anthraquinone. The catalyst is filtered
off and returned to the hydrogenation reactor.
Oxidation
When the working solution is contacted with compressed air
the oxygen of the air reacts with the hydrogen that has been
bonded to the 2-ethyl anthraquinone. This reaction forms the
hydrogen peroxide, which is dissolved in the working solution.
Extraction
To get the hydrogen peroxide in a useable form it is extracted
from the working solution using a very pure water. The
product is a hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration
of typically 30 to 35 weight percent. This can be further concentrated
by distillation, for example if the hydrogen peroxide is to be
transported to an end user. The peroxide free working solution
is returned to the hydrogenator to start a new cycle.

2. Special features with the Nuberg Engineering/EB Process

Design version of the AO process
The process has been developed in co-operation with Nuberg Engineering.

The Working Solution is based on TBU, tetrabutylurea, giving high degree of

hydrogenation and low flow of WS in the plant

The hydrogenation reactor is a slurry reactor with mechanical agitation and gas recycling, giving low hydrogen consumption, low catalyst inventory, low catalyst
consumption, high reaction selectivity (=low formation of side products) and smooth
operation.

Counter-current oxidation with internal cooling, giving short hold-up time, low
compressed air consumption and low by-product formation.

High hydrogen peroxide concentration (typically 38%) extracted from the extraction
column, giving low steam consumption in the following distillation plant were the
concentration is increased to 50%.

Very low effluent levels to water and air.

Low costs of production see table below:

Raw materials and Utilities Consumption/ton H2O2 Consumption/ton product 50% conc.
Hydrogen, Nm3
710
355
Steam, ton
1.7

0.85

800

400

0.8

0.4

0.5

0.25

2.5

12

0.04

0.02

Electricity, kWh

2-EAQ, kg

TBU, kg

Aromatic Solvent, kg

Alumina, Al2O3

Pd Catalyst, kg

Nitrogen, Nm3
40

20

1.0

0.5

0.4

0.2

Phosphoric Acid, kg

Stabilizer, kg

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