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Peroxides
Peroxides are chemicals that include a double oxygen
bond in their molecular structure. The peroxide ion
contains two electrons more than the oxygen molecule,
making it a powerful oxidiser. Usually fairly unstable;
peroxides readily react or decompose, yielding oxygen
and water. Organic peroxides are used as catalysts for
polymerisation.
Hydrogen
peroxide
The most common inorganic peroxide, hydrogen peroxide,
is a clear, colourless, slightly viscous liquid, miscible
with water in any proportion. It is used in the production
of paper pulp for bleaching, as a reagent for chemical
synthesis, in the detoxification and purification of
water and effluent, as well as for copper etching of
printed circuit boards and cleaning semiconductors.
Hydrogen peroxide finds application in
the bleaching textiles, leather tanning, food, aquaculture,
mining and environmental industries. Its oxidising properties
are used in bleach formulations, for disinfection, and
in the manufacture of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Calcium
peroxide
Calcium peroxide is a solid compound that is safe and
convenient to handle, compared with other solid oxidants.
It reacts with water to form hydrogen peroxide and calcium
hydroxide. The hydrogen peroxide released can be used
for various applications. It causes no adverse effect
to the environment, and is used in aquaculture and for
environmental applications like solid waste remediation,
wastewater treatment, soil decontamination, oxygen source
to soil for agriculture, fish pond oxygenation, etc.
Peracetic
acid
An environmentally safe and versatile
anti-microbial agent, peracetic acid is also a powerful
anti oxidant. It emits oxygen more readily and at lower
temperatures than other bleaching agents. It is effective
against micro organisms and is not deactivated by catalase
and peroxidase, the enzymes which break down hydrogen
peroxide. Peracetic acid is used especially in facilities
for industrial handling of foodstuffs, because it acts
at low temperature and low pH and the degradation product,
acetic acid, seldom needs to be rinsed away.
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