Constant flow oxygen generation with manganese oxide supported on spherical activated carbon using hydrogen peroxide decomposition

Abstract

In situations where oxygen is scarce or absent, such as during prolonged diving or high-altitude mountaineering, or in cases where breathing becomes impossible due to toxic substances like in fires or chemical, biological, or radiological incidents, a device that supplies a specific amount of oxygen is necessary for survival. A Manganese Oxide/Spherical Activated Carbon (Mn-SPAC) catalyst was produced for the purpose of creating a steady oxygen supply. This was achieved through the carbonization and activation of manganese-exchanged resin under nitrogen and steam conditions. The characteristics of Mn-SPAC were analyzed using pore characteristics analysis, XRD, FE-SEM, and XPS, focusing on the amount of added manganese and carbonization time. To optimize conditions for generating a consistent amount of oxygen, the synthesized catalyst was reacted with 30% hydrogen peroxide, and the amount of oxygen produced was measured. In the optimized reaction setup, a consistent oxygen release was monitored for a duration of 20 min during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Comparative XPS studies conducted pre- and post-reaction demonstrated the oxidation state of manganese following the process. These observations indicate that the newly developed catalyst is best suited for one-time use scenarios.