A New Cathodic Process for the Production of H2O2

A new commercial method for the cathodic production of hydrogen peroxide is described based on the use of cathodes made wholly or partly of activated carbon of good electric conductivity. The new process combines the production at the anode of oxygen (when alkali carbonates or hydroxides are used) or chlorine (when alkali chlorides are decomposed) or persulfates or perborates (when sulfates or borates are used). Diluted alkaline hydrogen peroxide solutions can be produced at current efficiencies better than 90 per cent. The hydrogen peroxide can be concentrated in the cell so that more than 250 g./L. of hydrogen peroxide are obtained. For the cathodic production of one pound of 30 per cent hydrogen peroxide in dilute solutions only 1/3 to 1/4 of the electrical energy required by the older anodic processes is necessary.