Hydrogen Peroxide

Product Overview

Hydrogen Peroxide (CAS 7722‑84‑1), commonly known as hydrogen peroxide, is an inorganic peroxide with strong oxidizing properties. Industrial products are aqueous solutions of varying concentrations, while the pure substance is a pale‑blue viscous liquid. Commercially‑available grades include concentrations of 27.5%, 30%, 35% and 50%, as well as high‑purity grades such as food‑grade and electronic‑grade. Its aqueous solution is colourless and transparent with a faint pungent odour.

With powerful oxidizing capacity, hydrogen peroxide readily decomposes under light exposure, high temperature, or catalysis by heavy metals and impurities, yielding oxygen and water with clean, residue‑free decomposition products. It features oxidation, bleaching, sterilization and detoxification functions. According to purity and concentration, it is classified into industrial grade, food grade and electronic‑semiconductor grade. As a strong oxidizer with corrosive properties, hydrogen peroxide requires strict controls during storage and handling. It serves as a vital basic inorganic raw material for fine chemicals, environmental treatment and electronic‑material industries.

Basic Parameters

Production Process

The anthraquinone process is the dominant technology for large‑scale global industrial hydrogen‑peroxide production. Due to high energy consumption, the electrolytic process has been gradually phased out from large‑scale industrial manufacturing. The complete process consists of hydrogenation, oxidation, extraction‑purification, concentration and stabilization to produce products of different concentrations and purity grades.

Hydrogenation Reaction: 2‑ethylanthraquinone is used as the working carrier to prepare mixed working fluid composed of heavy aromatics and trioctyl phosphate. Inside the hydrogenation reactor, hydrogen gas is introduced under palladium‑based catalyst, and anthraquinone is reduced to anthrahydroquinone to complete the hydrogenation step.

Oxidation Reaction: Hydrogenated working fluid is fed into the oxidation tower, where compressed air is injected. Anthrahydroquinone is oxidized by oxygen to regenerate anthraquinone, while hydrogen peroxide is generated and enters the organic phase.

Extraction and Purification: Counter‑current extraction with purified water transfers hydrogen peroxide from the organic working fluid into the aqueous phase. Crude aqueous hydrogen peroxide is separated, then washed with heavy aromatics and adsorbed to remove organic impurities to obtain crude product. The working fluid is recycled back to the hydrogenation unit for reuse.

Concentration, Stabilization and Refining: Vacuum low‑temperature concentration is performed to reach target product concentration. Special stabilizers are added to suppress decomposition. Distillation, ion‑exchange and other technologies further remove metal ions and organic contaminants, yielding finished products of industrial‑grade, food‑grade and electronic‑grade with different purity specifications.

The anthraquinone process is well‑established, featuring large production capacity and low raw‑material consumption, and represents the global standard mass‑production route. Post‑processing with different refining depths enables production ranging from regular industrial grades to high‑purity electronic grades.

Basic Information for Safety, Storage and Transportation

Hydrogen peroxide is a hazardous chemical: a strong oxidizer with corrosivity. It shall be strictly managed in compliance with hazardous‑chemical regulations. Co‑storage or co‑transportation with combustibles, reducing agents and metal powders is prohibited. Its decomposition releases oxygen, creating a combustion‑supporting hazard.

Storage Requirements: Store in dedicated hazardous‑chemical warehouses with cool, ventilated and dark conditions; avoid excessive storage temperature. Keep containers sealed away from heat sources, open flames, combustibles, reducing agents, alkaline substances and heavy‑metal materials. Store materials in segregated categories; mixed storage is strictly forbidden. Warehouses shall be equipped with leakage‑collection and emergency‑protection facilities. Regular inspections of tank conditions and material decomposition status are required.

Transportation Requirements: Transport shall follow hazardous‑chemical regulations with dedicated tanks or sealed packaging. Carriers must hold valid hazardous‑chemical transport qualifications. Keep products away from light and control temperature throughout transit, with anti‑leakage protection implemented. Co‑transportation with reducing agents, flammables, alkalis and metal‑salt cargoes is prohibited.

Safety Characteristics: It is strongly oxidizing and corrosive, and may irritate or burn skin and eyes. Violent decomposition with heat release and oxygen evolution can occur upon contact with reducing agents or heavy‑metal impurities. Operators must wear protective goggles, acid‑resistant protective clothing and acid‑alkali‑resistant gloves. In case of leakage, isolate combustible materials and flush with large volumes of water for dilution. Direct human contact with the substance is forbidden.

Industrial Advantages of China

China is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of hydrogen peroxide. The anthraquinone production technology has achieved full domestic localization. China ranks first globally in production capacity, output and export volume, with complete basic‑chemical‑industry supporting facilities and strong global market competitiveness.

Leading Large‑scale Production Capacity: Large‑scale hydrogen‑peroxide facilities are intensively distributed across China. Complete anthraquinone production units are widely deployed. China can supply large‑volume stable deliveries of conventional 27.5%‑50% industrial‑grade products, alongside food‑grade and high‑purity electronic‑grade products. It can undertake long‑term bulk domestic and international contract orders with reliable delivery capability.

Complete Raw‑material Cost Advantages: Upstream industrial chains covering hydrogen, heavy aromatics, anthraquinone carriers, palladium catalysts and extraction solvents are well‑developed with sufficient raw‑material supply. Leveraging the integrated model of large chemical parks, overall production energy consumption and manufacturing costs are significantly reduced, delivering prominent global cost‑competitiveness.

Mature Process Iteration: Domestic enterprises continuously optimize hydrogenation‑oxidation efficiency of the anthraquinone process and improve extraction‑purification and deep‑refining technologies. High‑purity electronic‑grade products have gradually realized domestic substitution. Impurity control and storage stability meet top international standards with low batch‑to‑batch variation.

Closed‑loop Full‑industrial‑chain Support: China has built a complete full‑value chain covering basic chemical raw materials, synthetic production, deep refining, concentration blending, quality inspection, warehousing and logistics. Self‑sufficiency reaches 100%, satisfying both domestic market demand and large‑volume global export‑trade requirements.

Multi‑system Compliance for Export: Various Chinese‑made hydrogen‑peroxide grades have complete product‑testing systems complying with Chinese national standards and international general specifications. Full qualifications are available to satisfy import‑access requirements for most countries, ensuring high adaptability for cross‑border trade.

Upstream and Downstream Industrial Chain

As a basic inorganic peroxide chemical feedstock, hydrogen peroxide has a clearly closed‑loop industrial chain. Upstream includes basic chemical raw materials, working‑fluid carriers, catalysts and extraction solvents. Downstream covers chemical oxidation feedstocks, environmental‑treatment agents, fine‑chemical intermediates and high‑purity electronic chemicals.

Upstream Raw Materials: Hydrogen, air (oxygen), 2‑ethylanthraquinone, heavy‑aromatic solvents, trioctyl phosphate, palladium catalyst, purified water, stabilizers, extraction‑washing reagents

Downstream Application Fields: Basic raw materials for oxidation and bleaching, environmental‑treatment agents, fine‑chemical oxidation intermediates, food‑processing aids, high‑purity electronic wet chemicals, basic raw materials for disinfection and sterilization

FAQ

Q: What are the major production regions and supply characteristics of hydrogen peroxide in China?
A: Hydrogen‑peroxide production capacities in China are concentrated in large‑scale chemical parks. Leading enterprises are equipped with complete large‑scale anthraquinone units plus post‑refining sections, capable of supplying multiple concentrations and grades (industrial, food, high‑purity electronic grades). Complete hazardous‑chemical warehousing, logistics and export qualifications are available. China can undertake long‑term bulk hazardous‑chemical orders from domestic and overseas clients and acts as the core global supply source for hydrogen peroxide.

Q: What are the main components of hydrogen‑peroxide manufacturing costs?
A: Total comprehensive manufacturing costs fall into four categories: 1) Raw‑material costs, mainly hydrogen, anthraquinone working‑fluid carriers and solvents; 2) Energy consumption from hydrogenation, oxidation, extraction, concentration and refining processes; 3) Costs for catalysts, stabilizers, process consumables, equipment maintenance and labour; 4) Costs for finished‑product inspection, dedicated hazardous‑chemical warehousing and hazardous‑goods logistics. Supported by China's complete coal‑chemical and chemical industrial chains, significant comprehensive‑cost advantages are achieved.

Q: What are the core differences between hydrogen‑peroxide grades of different concentrations and specifications, and what are the selection criteria?
A: The base substance remains identical; core differences lie in concentration levels and impurity‑control specifications. Industrial grade, commonly at 27.5%‑50%, meets impurity requirements for general chemical‑oxidation applications. Food grade imposes strict limits on heavy metals and harmful impurities with compliant stabilizers added. Electronic grade undergoes multi‑stage deep refining with metal‑ion control down to ppb levels. Procurement selection shall be determined based on required concentration, impurity‑control targets and compliance‑grade requirements for end‑use.