Green Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide

  • 19 Jul 2025

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Indian scientists at the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have developed a novel, eco-friendly method to synthesize hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) directly from sunlight and water using a photocatalyst called Mo-DHTA COF. This innovation marks a significant advancement in green chemistry and sustainable industrial practices.

What is Hydrogen Peroxide (H?O?)?

  • A colorless, bitter-tasting liquid with powerful oxidizing properties.
  • Environmentally friendly: Decomposes into water and oxygen without leaving harmful residues.
  • Naturally present in trace amounts in the atmosphere.
  • Unstable and decomposes readily, releasing heat.
  • Found in household use (3–9% concentration) for disinfection, bleaching, and wound cleaning.

Applications

  • Medical: Disinfectant, wound cleaner.
  • Industrial: Textile and paper bleaching, foam rubber production, and rocket propellant.
  • Environmental: Wastewater treatment, green sterilization.
  • Energy & Chemistry: Fuel cells, chemical synthesis, and potentially in CO? reduction and water splitting.

Limitations of Conventional H?O? Production

  • Energy-intensive and environmentally hazardous.
  • Costly and not sustainable for large-scale, decentralized applications.

The Innovation: Mo-DHTA COF

What is it?

  • Mo-DHTA COF stands for dimolybdenum paddlewheel-embedded Covalent Organic Framework.
  • Developed by a DST-supported research team at SNBNCBS.
  • Published in the journal Small.

Photocatalytic Mechanism

  • Made from α-hydroquinone-based organic linkers and dimolybdenum units.
  • Upon visible light exposure, the material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs).
  • Electrons reduce oxygen to superoxide radicals, which then convert to H?O? through further reactions.
  • Functions in various media (ethanol, benzyl alcohol, and even pure water).

Advantages of Mo-DHTA COF

Feature

Description

Eco-Friendly

Uses only water and sunlight—no harmful by-products.

High Photocatalytic Efficiency

Effective even in pure water, not just organic solvents.

Stability

Structurally stable and recyclable, suitable for long-term use.

Enhanced Performance

Overcomes limitations of earlier photocatalysts like metal oxides, g-C?N?, and MOFs.

Scalable

Promising for industrial upscaling and decentralized chemical production.

Significance and Future Potential

  • Green Chemistry: Sets a foundation for cleaner chemical production methods.
  • Healthcare & Pharma: Enables low-cost production of disinfectants.
  • Environmental Remediation: Supports sustainable water purification and sterilization.
  • Energy & Materials Science: Potential use in CO? reduction, water splitting, and fuel cell technologies.
  • Research Outlook: Future focus includes optimization of metal-embedded COFs and exploring other catalytic systems for broader applications.