Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless, transparent liquid with strong oxidizing properties. It can naturally decompose into water and oxygen and is widely used in various industrial sectors, pool maintenance, and wastewater treatment.
Applications in daily life and industry:
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Pool disinfection: Reduces water pH levels. Due to its extremely strong oxidizing capability, hydrogen peroxide, when used with water, releases oxygen radicals, contributing to effective disinfection and bactericidal processes.
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Medical sterilization: Effective in disinfecting bacteria on medical equipment, tools, and supplies. Hydrogen peroxide also oxidizes sulfur compounds, helping to treat and reduce odors in wastewater systems.
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Paper and pulp bleaching: Its powerful bleaching properties help in whitening and removing pigments, stains, and bacteria from paper and pulp.
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Production of sodium percarbonate and detergent ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide is used to produce organic peroxide compounds such as dibenzoyl peroxide. It is also utilized to manufacture milder bleaching agents like sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate, which are used in laundry detergents. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide serves as a free radical initiator in polymerization reactions.
