Polymer membrane based electrolytic cell and process for the direct generation of hydrogen peroxide in liquid streams

A hydrogen peroxide generator device comprising a multiplicity of electrolytic adjacent cells for generating hydrogen peroxide in a stream of water, each cell comprising:

• a cathode containing a catalyst for the reduction of oxygen;
• an anode containing a catalyst for the oxidation of water;
• a polymer membrane, semipermeable to protons and having a first face interfacing to said cathode and a second face interfacing to said anode so that when a stream of water containing dissolved oxygen, oxygen bubbles, or emulsified oxygen is passed over the cathode and a stream of water is passed over the anode and an electric current is passed between the anode and the cathode, hydrogen peroxide is generated at the cathode and oxygen is generated at the anode;
• means for delivering a stream of water containing oxygen to and from each of said cells wherein the water containing hydrogen peroxide exiting the cathode of each cell mingles with water containing oxygen supplied to the anode of the adjacent cell;
• and
• means for electrically connecting said cells and passing an electrical current through the cells so that oxygen is reduced adjacent to the cathode of each cell, resulting in the generation of hydrogen peroxide in the water stream.