Electrolytic production of hydrogen peroxide

The purpose of this investigation was to study the factors affecting the electrolytic production of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen. The mechanism of this reaction throws light on the production and chemistry of hydrogen peroxide, electrochemistry of hydrogen, oxygen and water and the mechanism of corrosion.

This investigation involved the study of the formation and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide at the cathode of an electrolytic cell. Zinc, mercury, magnesium alloy F-S-l, aluminum, lead and activated carbon electrodes in 5 N sodium hydroxide, 0.1018 N sodium hydroxide, and 0.01018 N potassium hydroxide, saturated ammonium chloride and 0.043 N phosphoric acid were studied.