Factors That Affect Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition

I strongly recommend you to give enough attention to this post, because if you fail to avoid decomposition reaction to occur, you will not only lose your hydrogen peroxide (concentration decreases), but you may be exposed to some hazards. Remember, beside water hydrogen peroxide also releases oxygen and heat when decomposes.

Oxygen will develop high pressure in piping or vessel even it can introduce over pressure condition. Heat from the reaction will expose high temperature. Both sources of hazards if not treated properly may cause severe damage to equipments and threaten human safety.

Below are factors that affect hydrogen peroxide decomposition reaction. Read each point carefully.

1. The presence of heavy metal (catalyst) such as Palladium (Pd), Platinum (Pt), Ferro (Fe), etc.


2. Dirt and dust. Always keep clean area where hydrogen peroxide is stored, includes all handling facilities.


3. Temperature. According to research results, every 10oC of temperature increase (in the range of 50~70oC) will cause the rate of decomposition reaction increases by factor 2.


4. Using incompatible materials for its packaging material.


5. pH. Increase in pH value of hydrogen peroxide solution will obviously increase decomposition reaction.


6. The surface of storage containers. Rough surface or the presence of minutes scratches on shell side of the tank aids the decomposition process.

The easiest thing to do to avoid hydrogen peroxide decomposition is by separating hydrogen peroxide in the plant site from the incompatible materials as mentioned above.