Catalytic production of hydrogen peroxide

A catalytic process for producing hydrogen peroxide from oxygen and hydrogen comprising the steps of:

• A) treating an aqueous suspension of heterogeneous catalyst with a source of oxygen and a source of hydrogen;
• B) separating the catalyst;
• and,
• C) isolating the produced hydrogen peroxide,
• wherein said catalyst is a complex of the formula:
• [[(Y.sup.1 O.sub.3 --Z--Y.sup.2 O.sub.3).multidot.p(X.sup.2/p-)].sub.1-n (Y.sup.3 O.sub.3 R.sup.3).sub.2n Me.sup.2 ]*Pt*Pd
• wherein
• each of Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2, and Y.sup.3, independently of the other, is phosphorus or arsenic;
• Z is a divalent group which reversibly forms a stable reduced form, said group containing two conjugated cationic centers which together have a negative E.degree..sub.red value;
• Me.sup.2 is a trivalent or tetravalent metal of Group III, IVA, or IVB having an atomic number of at least 21 or a lanthanide;
• X is anion;
• n has a value of from 0 to 0.8;
• and
• p has a value of 1, 2 or 3;
• and
• R.sup.3 is a nonreducible capping group.