Are There Advantages to Using 50% versus 10% Strength Peroxide in Pulp Bleach Plants?, 2018 PEERS

When examining the use of higher concentration peroxide in kraft pulp bleach plants, it was determined that there is limited to no operational benefits associated with the use of 50% peroxide versus 10% concentration peroxide in the bleach plant.  In fact, there are significant safety concerns that result from the use of 50+% peroxide.  There have even been several instances of catastrophic explosions resulting from using 50% peroxide. The major safety problems related to hydrogen peroxide are the potential for rapid pressurization from catalyzed decomposition, fire due to oxygen formed in decomposition, and peroxide/organic vapor phase explosions 

Mechanical pulp bleach plants do have a kinetic advantage associated with the use of higher concentration peroxide.  When comparing peroxide concentration within a mechanical pulp peroxide bleaching stage operating at 40% consistency, the 10% peroxide concentration provides a solution concentration of 0.62 mMolar.  The 50% peroxide solution increases the solution concentration to 0.74 mMolar resulting in about a 20% increase in reaction rate.  The chemical cocktail which is mixed with mechanical pulp includes sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, sodium hydroxide and peroxide resulting in a more stable peroxide solution than that employed in chemical pulp mills. 

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