What are Some Hydrogen Peroxide Uses?

Hydrogen peroxide, chemical formula H ₂ O ₂ . Pure hydrogen peroxide is a light blue viscous liquid that is miscible with water in any proportion. It is a strong oxidant. The aqueous solution is commonly known as hydrogen peroxide and is a colorless transparent liquid. Its aqueous solution is suitable for medical wound disinfection, environmental disinfection and food disinfection. Under normal circumstances, it will slowly decompose into water and oxygen, but the decomposition rate is extremely slow. The way to speed up the reaction speed is to add a catalyst-manganese dioxide, etc. or irradiate with short-wave rays.

Introduction

Toxic Substances Data: 7722-84-1 (Hazardous Substances Data)

Professional standards:

1. It should not be taken orally and should be kept out of reach of children.

2. It has corrosive effect on metal, so use it with caution.

3. Avoid mixing with alkaline and oxidizing substances.

4. Protect from light and heat, store at room temperature.

5. The valid period of medical treatment is generally 2 months. ^[5]

GB 2760-86: Raw milk preservation and

Determination of hydrogen peroxide concentration with potassium permanganate

Routes of entry: Skin contact, inhalation, ingestion.

Health hazard: High concentration of hydrogen peroxide is strongly corrosive. Inhalation of vapor or mist of this product has strong irritation to the respiratory tract. Direct eye contact with liquid can cause irreversible damage and even blindness. Oral poisoning has abdominal pain, chest pain, dyspnea, vomiting, temporary movement and sensory disturbances, and elevated body temperature. Individual cases have visual impairment, epilepsy-like spasms, and paresis. ^[7]

The substance is toxic to aquatic life.

Rumor : potassium permanganate was mistakenly mixed with manganese dioxide in the experiment of making hydrogen peroxide solution with oxygen, and the result is that the reaction rate and the amount of oxygen generated are the same as when potassium permanganate is not added.

The above "Exercise Questions" are from the 11th grade (previous) monthly chemistry test paper (January) Question 11 of Sizao Town Middle School, Dongtai City, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province in the 2013-2014 school year.

Refutation : potassium permanganate can directly react with hydrogen peroxide: 2KMnO4 + 3H2O2 ==== 2KOH + 2MnO2 + 2H2O + 3O2 (alkaline or neutral environment) ^[6]

The scientific name of hydrogen peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. Generally speaking, hydrogen peroxide is a 3% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution. It is versatile, but most commonly used as a disinfectant and bleach. Why is hydrogen peroxide used in food? Is it toxic? Will it cause cancer ^[12] ?

[Disinfection expert]

The killing of microorganisms by hydrogen peroxide mainly depends on its strong oxidizing effect, so it does not produce drug resistance, and it is also effective against bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The most common 3% hydrogen peroxide solution can easily kill pathogenic microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and hepatitis C virus.

Even extremely stubborn bacterial spores can be killed with 10-30% hydrogen peroxide.

In the medical field, it is mainly used for disinfecting the surface of medical equipment, and can also be used for oral disinfection or cleaning wounds.

Because it is colorless, odorless and has almost no residue after sterilization, it is also widely used in the food industry.

For example, disinfection of dairy products, fruit juice, beer, drinking water packaging, containers and production lines, as well as surface disinfection of aquatic products, meat, fruits and vegetables.

It can also be used for washing and sterilizing milk teats. Low-concentration hydrogen peroxide spray can disinfect the air and floor of the plant ^[12] .

Bleachers

The oxidizing properties of hydrogen peroxide destroy natural pigments, so it can bleach paper, fabrics and food. At present, more than half of the hydrogen peroxide in the world is used for bleaching pulp and paper.

In China, hydrogen peroxide is often used in water products such as squid, hoof tendons, tripe, etc. It is also used in foods such as pistachios, yuba, pickled chicken feet, and pork trotters.

Hydrogen peroxide can make food color whiter, and also has a certain deodorizing effect.

Although there is no problem with security, this feature is often used by criminals to make a good charge.

The use of hydrogen peroxide is also controversial abroad.

For example, the Italian government has approved processors to use hydrogen peroxide for bleaching seafood, so that fish and shellfish will be whiter and consumers will prefer it.

However, the EU considers this behavior to be "commercial fraud" and has issued a warning letter to the Italian government ^[12] .

is it safe?

Hydrogen peroxide is unstable and easily breaks down into oxygen and water, so it is quite safe.

For example, studies have confirmed that the hydrogen peroxide residue in water-based products will gradually disappear during the soaking process, and subsequent processing will quickly destroy it.

In 2004, the evaluation report of the Expert Committee of the World Health Organization (JECFA) concluded that the level of hydrogen peroxide residues in food is very low, and it will be almost degraded by the time consumers eat it. Nor does it require a safe intake.

The US FDA also lists hydrogen peroxide as a GRAS substance (that is, it is quite safe), and it is usually used in accordance with production requirements (that is, there is no limit on the amount).

For example, the maximum amount used in smoked herring and salted eggs is "to achieve the effect of oxidation and antibacterial", and the maximum amount used in the processing of tripe is "to achieve the bleaching effect".

In addition, hydrogen peroxide can also be used for cleaning and disinfecting fruits and vegetables.

Medical hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 3% is generally not a problem even if it is taken by mistake, but drinking 30% hydrogen peroxide directly can burn the digestive tract.

However, this situation is extremely rare, because the average person does not have access to such a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

In addition, hydrogen peroxide can quickly decompose in heavy metal salts, alkaline environments and violent impacts, and even trigger an explosion.

However, this generally occurs during the production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen peroxide, which consumers are unlikely to encounter ^[12] .

[Is it carcinogenic?

Hydrogen peroxide has been used in food for at least 50 years and has been considered safe and reliable.

In the early 1980s, scientists discovered that it may damage the gastrointestinal tract of mice, and may even be carcinogenic.

However, in 1988, the US FDA's evaluation committee determined that the evidence for carcinogenicity of hydrogen peroxide was insufficient.

The evaluation of the International Cancer Research Institute in 1999 also concluded that there is insufficient evidence for human and animal cancer caused by hydrogen peroxide, and it is classified into 3 categories (substances that are unlikely to cause cancer). K, rust, etc.

A small number of in vitro cell experiments have found a certain genotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide, but not found in animal experiments.

This is because the animal body has sufficient defense system, it is difficult to enter the cells of the body through the digestive tract and damage the DNA.

There is also insufficient evidence to show that it affects the animal's reproductive capacity ^[12] .