Hydrogen Peroxide

The hydrogen peroxide is widely used thanks to its very good properties. Indeed H₂O₂ is safe, effective, powerful and versatile oxidant.

The table below lists the oxidation Potential scale, hydrogen peroxide is more powerful than chlorine or chlorine dioxide for instance. Furthermore through catalysis, hydrogen peroxide can be converted into hydroxyl radicals which is the second stronger oxidant after fluorine.

Oxidant	Oxidation Potential, V
Fluorine	3.0
Hydroxyl radical	2.8
Ozone	2.1
Hydrogen peroxide	1.8
Potassium permanganate	1.7
Chlorine dioxide	1.5
Chlorine	1.4

There are several advantages in using H₂O₂:

Powerful
Safe
Versatile
Selective
Widely used

The main applications of H₂O₂are numerous, such as the odor control, corrosion control, BOD/COD removal, organic oxidation, metal oxidation, toxicity oxidation and disinfection. Besides hydrogen peroxide can be combinated with different processes to improve the results: flocculation/precipitation, Air flotation, biotreatement, filtration, carbon adsorption, air scrubbers and incineration.

The most difficult pollutant to oxidize may require H₂O₂to be activated with catalysts such as iron, copper, manganese or other transition metal compounds. The most common used solution catalyst is iron, which when is used with H₂O₂is called Fenton's reaction.

Resource: US Peroxide