A Microwave Accelerator for Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyst Beds

Methods are sought that will heat a small hydrogen peroxide decomposition chamber in a pilot reactor rapidly to a point where thermal or catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide can be safely and spontaneously initiated. The heat output from the pilot reactor will then bring the main reactor up to operating temperature. This SBIR program will demonstrate the potential of a microwave-powered accelerator for noncatalytic starts of hydrogen peroxide decomposition reactors. Complex permittivity measurements on hydrogen peroxide with different concentrations will be carried out to identify the frequency region for maximum microwave absorption for a given concentration. Microwave dielectric heating experiments in the frequency region of maximum absorption will be performed to establish a relationship between microwave power requirement and reactor volume for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.