What are the main production routes for hydrogen peroxide and how do they affect supply costs?

What are the main production routes for hydrogen peroxide and how do they affect supply costs?
Hydrogen peroxide production is dominated by the anthraquinone process, which accounts for nearly all output in China and most global capacity. The method involves sequential hydrogenation and oxidation of alkyl anthraquinones, followed by extraction and concentration. Older electrolytic routes, such as the peroxodisulfate method, are energy-intensive and require platinum electrodes, making them largely obsolete. Direct synthesis from hydrogen and oxygen remains attractive in theory but faces safety and selectivity hurdles. Recent developments focus on electrochemical oxygen reduction, with carbon-based and single-atom catalysts showing promise for decentralized, on-site production. However, these technologies have not yet reached commercial scale. The anthraquinone route's complexity and energy consumption keep production costs relatively high, while its multi-step nature creates bottlenecks that influence regional supply and pricing dynamics.