Structurally Disordered Pd-P Nanoparticles as Effective Catalysts for the Production of Hydrogen Peroxide by the Anthraquinone Method

The properties of the catalyst based on structurally disordered Pd-P nanoparticles supported on a carbon support (Pd-P/C) in the preparation of hydrogen peroxide by the anthraquinone method have been studied. It is shown that a high yield of H2O2 is observed upon sequential hydrogenation of 2000 mol of eAQ (mol Pd)(-1). The H2O2 yield reaches 96 %-97 %. Pd-P nanoparticles are more active in the hydrogenation of 2-ethyl-9,10-anthraquinone than Pd6P crystalline phosphide. In terms of H2O2 yield, Pd-P/C catalysts are superior to known catalysts: Pd/C, Pd/Al2O3. Based on the data of X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma and thermogravimetry, the main reasons for the deactivation of Pd-P/C catalysts have been established. Crystallization of the structurally disordered Pd-P nanoparticles, poisoning by eAQ conversion products and leaching of the active component are considered to be possible reasons of the Pd-P/C catalyst deactivation.