While most people may know hydrogen peroxide for its use in hair bleaching, this versatile compound has much more to offer. As a green and sustainable oxidizing agent, it finds its applications across a broad range of industries. But can hydrogen peroxide’s environmentally friendly properties make it an important component in the transition towards sustainability by replacing less eco-friendly chemicals?

Hydrogen peroxide, a colourless liquid compound of hydrogen and oxygen with the chemical formula H2O2, is an increasingly in-demand and versatile chemical known for over two centuries. Unlike many chemicals, hydrogen peroxide is entirely natural and occurs in rainwater, snow, and even the human body. It decomposes to only water and oxygen, making it an environmentally friendly product. This unique property makes it valuable in times of increased environmental awareness. Hydrogen peroxide is not only used for hair bleaching but has a disinfectant and antibacterial effect that eliminates odours, making it a cleaning agent for home and wounds. It’s in high demand across industrial sectors, including paper, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and electronics, and is used in water treatment, chemical syntheses, and rocket fuel.

Its effectiveness can be enhanced when combined with other substances such as iron ions, UV radiation, or ozone.

Why is Hydrogen peroxide sustainable?

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical with a distinctive ability to decompose into two non-toxic substances, water and oxygen, once it has served its purpose. This makes it an exceptional chemical with minimal environmental impact and a sustainable alternative to other less eco-friendly chemicals that have long plagued our environment.

Hydrogen peroxide is fast becoming a popular choice in various applications, such as cleaning agents and disinfectants, where the need for safe and environmentally-friendly products has never been greater. Furthermore, it could replace other hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing processes, especially in the paper, food, and cosmetic industries.

As public interest in sustainability continues to climb, many cosmetic manufacturers are seeking more natural and environmentally-friendly ingredients for their products. The benefits of “green” beauty products extend beyond trends — increasing studies show the toxicity of conventional cosmetics, and the natural cosmetics market continues to grow rapidly and consistently.

Even in its manufacturing process, hydrogen peroxide can be produced using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, making it even more sustainable. The autoxidation process used to produce hydrogen peroxide requires only hydrogen, oxygen, and water as raw materials, which are readily available and can be produced sustainably.

Its environmentally friendly nature makes it an excellent candidate for the much-needed transition towards sustainability, and with the ever-growing demand for greener alternatives, hydrogen peroxide is indeed a chemical for the future.

Common uses include

Hydrogen peroxide …

• Is an eco-friendly disinfectant that treats and purifies both municipal and industrial wastewater, eliminating the need for harmful disinfectants.
• Is used in paper and pulp industries, hydrogen peroxide is used as an efficient and environmentally compatible bleaching agent, and in paper recycling, it is used in a resource-efficient manner.
• Eliminates bacteria from beverage containers, preserving the products’ quality and increases their shelf life, even without refrigeration.
• Serves as a feedstock in sustainable production processes such as HPPO and HPPG, which produce globally demanded materials like propylene oxide and propylene glycol.
• Is used in launching and navigating satellites that gather valuable data for sustainable applications on our planet through Earth observation.
• Cleans electronic components cost-effectively, generating no harmful waste products.
• Aids in producing foam and insulating materials in a resource-saving way, which helps in energy conservation.
• Is commonly used in the destruction of cyanide in gold mining, as it converts the cyanide into less harmful compounds, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
• Is used to recycle valuable materials like lithium from lithium-ion batteries.

How can we help?

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Exciting news from one of our partners, Tessara, as they have officially launched two new products at Asian Fruit Logistica Bangkok. Two new sulphur pad products for table grapes, called Uvays Vivo and Berrisys, for the blueberry industry which extends the shelf life of blueberries during storage and transportation. 

Read more below about this exciting launch.

Tessara manufactures sulphur dioxide laminated sheets (sulphur pads); the company specialises in fresh science by providing post-harvest solutions that maximise the shelf life of valuable fresh produce to minimise food waste. 

“Our sulphur dioxide laminated sheets are scientifically designed for individual crops: table grapes, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cut flowers.”

Tessara’s production facility is BRC accredited with an AA rating and operates 24/7, 5 to 7 days a week. They have approximately 200 staff, including representatives and agents in key markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and North and South America. Tessara offers an innovative range of products that increases the shelf life during post-harvest storage and transportation. 

“…Our focus is about keeping fresh produce fresher for longer.”

“Our sulphur dioxide laminated sheets are scientifically designed for individual crops: table grapes, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cut flowers. All our products are for post-harvest application; they sterilise the fruit and destroy fungal pathogens, mainly Botrytis cinerea, a common cause of post-harvest rot during storage. Our focus is about keeping fresh produce fresher for longer.” 

Tessara’s range of products includes UVASYS and UVASYS VIVO, the fully recyclable sulphur pad for table grapes. In addition, BERRISYS and BERRISYS LITE are for berries – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and FLORASYS– for cut flowers. 

“A smart change in your post-harvest system can significantly affect your valuable crop’s shelf life. We enjoy discussing everything post-harvest to maximise shelf life. 

Both products are available and used in South Africa and the UK, with Turkey and Georgia following suit. In Australia, the APVMA registration for Berrisys is pending for December 2022. We eagerly await this approval to assist the Australian industry with its exports and domestic market opportunities for APVMA registration. Stay tuned and contact us if you have any questions regarding this exciting new product.

Today Kraton Chemical LLC/Kraton Chemical Products Shanghai Co. Ltd (Kraton) have appointed leading chemical distributor Redox Limited (Redox) as channel partner for their Tall Oil Fatty Acid and Ink Polyamides range in Australia and New Zealand.

“We’re excited to partner with Kraton, a company well known for their sustainability credentials as well as their unique and innovative products.” said Renato Coneliano, Marketing Manager at Redox. “Our clients are always looking for an edge and in Kraton we have the world’s foremost producer of Tall Oil Fatty Acids”.

Girish Udas, Senior Director at Kraton, welcomed the new appointment “Redox has a peerless logistics and sales network, a partner that can best cater to the needs of our clients in the region as we expand into the future.”

All customers will be contacted shortly to confirm the new arrangements and to organise a seamless transition.

SYLFAT™ TALL OIL FATTY ACIDS

SYLFAT™ fatty acids are helpful in various industrial applications, including ore floatation, fuel additives, alkyd resins, dimer acids, surfactants, cleaners, oil field chemicals, lubricant esters, and other chemical derivatives.  The use of these product ranges can be found in the long carbon chain (C18), the acid function of the carboxyl group (COOH), and the unsaturation of the double bonds.

UNI-REZ™ INK POLYAMIDES

Kraton offers a wide range of non-reactive polyamide resins for packaging gravure inks, flexographic inks, lamination inks, and cold seal-release lacquers.

Other Kraton items to be distributed by Redox under this agreement include – Unidyme™ Dimer Acids, Sylvatal™ DTO, Century™ Branched Fatty Acids, Sylvaros™ Tall Oil Rosins, and Upgraded Rosins.

Please contact your local Redox Representative for more information.

About Kraton Corporation
Kraton Corporation is a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine wood pulping co-products. Kraton’s polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, medical, packaging, automotive, paving and roofing applications. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company’s pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of performance chemicals into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in numerous countries worldwide. Kraton and the Kraton logo are registered trademarks of Kraton Corporation, or its subsidiaries or affiliates, in one or more, but not all countries.

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