Three compartment electrolytic cell method for producing hydrogen peroxide

Claim 1

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing an aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ), within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 2

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing an aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ), within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 3

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing an acidic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the acidic aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the acidic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said acidic aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing acidic aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 4

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing an acidic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the acidic aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the acidic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said acidic aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing acidic aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 5

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing a basic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the basis aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the basic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said basic aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing basic aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 6

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) introducing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) introducing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) introducing a basic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the basis aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the basic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said basic aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing basic aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 7

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing an acidic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; and, (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the acidic aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the acidic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said aqueous solution.

Claim 8

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing an acidic aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing a basic aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing an acidic aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; and, (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said basic aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said acidic aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said acidic aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the acidic aqueous anolyte to the acidic aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the acidic aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said aqueous solution.

Claim 11

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 12

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the sodium hydroxide aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; and, (f) withdrawing sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 13

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing a potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; (f) circulating the sulfuric acid solution between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane; and, (g) withdrawing the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 14

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between an acid resistant anode and a first surface of a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions; (b) passing a potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode; (c) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode; (e) connecting said acid resistant anode and said gas-diffusion cathode with an external power supply for causing, (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and the O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; (f) circulating the sulfuric acid solution between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane; and, (g) withdrawing the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 15

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between a dimensionally stable anode and a first surface on a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions, said membrane comprising Nafion 415, said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte comprises a 1.0 molar solution of sulfuric acid; (b) passing a potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode, said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte comprising a 0.5 molar solution of potassium hydroxide, said gas-diffusion cathode comprising carbon black; (c) introducing a 1.0 molar sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode, oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas diffusing through the gas-diffusion cathode from the second surface thereon to the first surface thereon; (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; (f) circulating the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between the dimensionally stable anode and the anion membrane first surface; (g) circulating the potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between the gas-diffusion cathode and the cation membrane first surface; (h) circulating the sulfuric acid aqueous solution between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface; and, (i) withdrawing the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.

Claim 16

A method for producing hydrogen peroxide comprising the steps of: (a) passing a sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between a dimensionally stable anode and a first surface on a cation membrane permeable only to positive ions, said membrane comprising Nafion 415, said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte comprises a 1.0 molar solution of sulfuric acid; (b) passing a potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between a first surface of an anion membrane permeable only to negative ions and a first surface on a gas-diffusion cathode, said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte comprising a 0.5 molar solution of potassium hydroxide, said gas-diffusion cathode comprising carbon black; (c) introducing a 1.0 molar sulfuric acid aqueous solution between a second surface on said cation membrane and a second surface on said anion membrane; (d) introducing oxygen-containing gas to a second surface on said gas-diffusion cathode, oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas diffusing through the gas-diffusion cathode from the second surface thereon to the first surface thereon; (i) the oxygen to be reduced at said diffusion cathode to produce O 2 H - ions within said potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte, (ii) the water in said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to be oxidized to produce hydrogen ions (H + ) within said sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte, and (iii) the hydrogen ions (H + ) to move through the cation membrane from the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and O 2 H - ions to move through the anion membrane from the basic aqueous catholyte to the sulfuric acid aqueous solution whereupon said hydrogen ions (H + ) react with the HO 2 - ions to produce hydrogen peroxide within said sulfuric acid aqueous solution; (f) circulating the sulfuric acid aqueous anolyte between the dimensionally stable anode and the anion membrane first surface; (g) circulating the potassium hydroxide aqueous catholyte between the gas-diffusion cathode and the cation membrane first surface; (h) circulating the sulfuric acid aqueous solution between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface; and, (i) withdrawing the sulfuric acid aqueous solution and hydrogen peroxide from between the anion membrane second surface and the cation membrane second surface.