In situ generation of hydrogen peroxide from reaction of O2 with hydroxylamine from hydroxylammonium salt in neutral aqueous or non-aqueous medium using reusable Pd/Al2O3 catalyst

In situ generation of H2O2 with high yield can be accomplished by reacting O2 with NH2OH from hydroxylammonium salt [NH2OH · HCl or (NH2OH)2 · H2SO4] in a neutral aqueous medium using a reusable heterogeneous Pd (1.0 wt%)/Al2O3 catalyst, even at low temperature (10 °C), with the formation of harmless by-products (viz. N2 and water). The presence of KCl or KBr in the medium has beneficial effect. The H2O2 generation is strongly influenced by the pH of medium, reaction period and temperature; best results are obtained at the optimum pH and reaction medium.