Using only electricity, a carbon-based catalyst, and oxygen from the air, scientists developed a method to produce “hydrogen peroxide” or hydrogen peroxide.
This process operates in a more efficient and ecological way than the traditional one. It does so under neutral and mild conditions, making it safer than traditional alkaline conditions.
Moreover, it uses normal air instead of pure oxygen, which facilitates its implementation on an industrial scale.
The Korean method for producing hydrogen peroxide
The problem lies in the fact that the current production of hydrogen peroxide is highly polluting and costly.
Therefore, the new process consists of a boron-doped mesoporous carbon catalyst.
Among its advantages are the use of oxygen from the air, lower environmental impact, and greater efficiency. Thus, it culminates in efficient production in neutral electrolytes with an 80% yield.
A new, more ecological method.
The importance of the development
Hydrogen peroxide is an essential compound in the chemical, medical, and semiconductor industries. Currently, its production is based on the anthraquinone process, which consumes a lot of energy, uses expensive palladium catalysts, and generates pollutants.
To mitigate these problems, attention was focused on the electrochemical reduction of oxygen with cheaper carbon catalysts. However, this method was limited by the need for high-purity oxygen and instability in basic electrolytes.
This advancement represents a more ecological and economical solution for the production of hydrogen peroxide, reducing environmental impact and dependence on costly materials.
Scientific advances towards efficiency: a metal 200,000 times thinner than a hair
Chinese scientists surprised the world with a key innovation for application in low-power technology and electronics. They created a metal 200,000 times thinner than a hair.
The study on two-dimensional metals shared by the Chinese Academy of Sciences is already making an impact worldwide.
Specialists from the Asian country managed to synthesize these 2D metals. These two-dimensional metals exhibit emerging physical properties, including higher electrical conductivity than their three-dimensional versions and a new mode of phononic vibration.
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