Continuous Flow Contact Electrocatalysis for Hydrogen Peroxide Production

For enhancing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by means of contact electrocatalysis, we describe the operation of a column reactor packed with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) microparticles through which water continuously flows. The hydrophobic PTFE particles (12 μm average diameter) remain stationary within the column, creating an extensive reaction interface without requiring particle dispersion. Operating at a water flow rate of 1.0 mL min–1 in a 35 mm long, 3.175 mm diameter column under ambient conditions, the system achieves an H2O2 production rate of 10.7 mM h–1. This might be compared with a previously reported batch contact electrocatalysis system [Zhao, J. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202300604]. in which PTFE particles float on a water surface and give a rate of H2O2 production that is 34 times smaller. We also demonstrate the versatility of this approach in practical applications, including bacterial disinfection and pollutant degradation; in 3.3 min, 89% of 5 ppm crystal violet was removed. This study introduces a scalable and sustainable strategy for transforming conventional contact electrocatalysis processes into productive flow-based chemistries.