Carbon-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

A kinetic study using an ash-free sugar charcoal shows that two different reaction mechanisms are involved; one in acid solution and the other in neutral and alkaline solution. Mechanisms are proposed which take into account variations of pH (2–11.6), H₂O₂ concentration (0.05–5 M), salt effects (NaCl and Na₂SO₄ from 10^–4 to 1 M), and also results of previous work. The activation energy in neutral solution is 14.8 kcal/mole.