Kinetics of heterogeneous decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The kinetics of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was studied in aqueous medium in the temperature range 25–40°C in the presence of Wofatit KPS-resin in the form of Cu(II)-ammine complex ions. The rate constant was deduced at various degrees of resin cross-linkage and different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The order of the decomposition reaction varied from first order to half order, i.e., the order of the reaction decreased with increasing the concentration of H₂O₂. The decomposition process was found to be a catalytic reaction which was controlled by the chemical reaction of H₂O₂ molecules with the active species inside the resin particles. The mechanism of the reaction can be summarized by the equation in which the subsequent reactions of the probable active complex are discussed.