2.3.4. Disinfectant

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used in hospitals for disinfection and has been in particularly high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic [54,55]. The majority of hydrogen peroxide is produced using the industrial anthraquinone process, which is only viable at a large scale. Issues relating to highly concentrated solutions and concerns about this process from a green chemistry perspective have led to considerable interest in alternative means of supplying hydrogen peroxide [56]. Local production of dilute hydrogen peroxide reduces waste products and the risks associated with transporting and storing high concentrations in bulk [57].

Processes have been developed for direct production of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen [58] or from water and oxygen [59]. Convergent PEM electrochemical synthesis uses water and oxygen as inputs to a fuel cell and produces dilute hydrogen peroxide. This approach is particularly promising in a hospital context if oxygen is made readily available using on-site production for medical use. Other electrochemical synthesis processes are under development for on-site production of hydrogen peroxide along with other useful products, such as ozone [60], hydrogen [61,62] and oxygen [63].
