# Hydrogen peroxide

A clean oxidiser that breaks down to water and oxygen; used to bleach pulp and textiles and, increasingly, to make propylene oxide.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/

Commodity chemicals · Acids & alkalis · No. 8

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 6 Mt a year, 100% basis (indicative, basis: producer capacity statements; no public statistical total found); India about 0.14-0.35 Mt (2024-25)
- 1.2 t CO₂e per t
- HS 284700
 Commodity chemicals · Acids & alkalis · Foundation · Matter

A bleach that breaks down into water and oxygen now feeds plastics plants; Evonik built a 230 kt factory for one customer.

Chart: Illustration: Hydrogen peroxide

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Hydrogen reduces an anthraquinone dissolved in solvent, air re-oxidises it and releases peroxide, which water extracts and distillation concentrates to 35-70%.

##### Three things to know

1. Nearly all peroxide is made by the anthraquinone process, which recycles its carrier and needs about 0.06 t of hydrogen per tonne.
2. Evonik built a 230 kt/yr plant at Jilin to serve a single propylene oxide customer.
3. Before 2017, imports supplied about 20% of India's demand; after anti-dumping duties lapsed in 2022, India swung into surplus.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Hydrogen**From gas reforming or chlor-alkali plants
2. 2 **Hydrogenation**Anthraquinone solution reduced over palladium
3. 3 **Oxidation**Air releases peroxide, carrier recycled
4. 4 **Extraction**Water pulls out 25-45% peroxide
5. 5 **Concentration**Distilled to 50, 60 or 70%
6. 6 **End use**Pulp bleaching, propylene oxide, chip cleaning
 Covered in [From building blocks to plastics, fibres and detergentsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/building-blocks-to-polymers/)[Colour and protection: dyes, pigments, paints and coatingsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/dyes-pigments-coatings/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen_peroxide/links/index.md)