Development of a monolith-based process for H2O2-production: from idea to large-scale implementation

Akzo Nobel, Eka Chemicals, produces hydrogen peroxide in a large scale usin g the anthraquinone (AQ) autooxidation process. The key step is the highly selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of the AQs to their corresponding hydr oquinones. For this step, a unique hydrogenation technology employing a mon olithic catalyst has been developed and implemented. The present contributi on outlines the development of this technology from the initial idea to imp lementation in industrial scale. Examples taken from Ekas patents in this a rea are used for illustrative purposes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.