Experimental investigation and simulation of gas–liquid–liquid reactive extraction process for the production of hydrogen peroxide

The gas–liquid–liquid reactive extraction system for the production of hydrogen peroxide via anthraquinone route was investigated. The oxidation of the hydrogenated anthraquinone working solution by oxygen and the extraction of hydrogen peroxide from the working solution with deionized water were carried out simultaneously in a sieve plate column of 50 mm in diameter. The effects of the superficial velocity of oxygen on the conversion of 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone and the extraction efficiency of hydrogen peroxide were investigated, separately. The results showed that the oxidation and the extraction do not hamper each other, on the contrary, the presence of gas in the column can promote the transfer of hydrogen peroxide from the organic phase to the aqueous phase, therefore, the conversion of 2-ethylanthrahydroquinone and the extraction efficiency of hydrogen peroxide increased with the increase of gas superficial velocity. In addition, a mathematical model for the simulation of the gas–liquid–liquid reactive extraction process was developed. The predicted values were compared with the experimental data at different conditions and the agreement was found to be quite satisfactory for the production of hydrogen peroxide in a sieve plate column.