A chemoenzymatic process for the preparation of 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid includes contacting D-glucose with (i) at least two enzymes selected from the group consisting essentially of galactose oxidase, pyranose 2-oxidase, glucarate dehydratase, catalase and a combination thereof to produce an intermediate; and (ii) a heterogeneous metal catalyst to form 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid.

Systems and methods for electrochemically producing chemical products are provided. In certain cases, the systems and methods described herein are capable of producing chemical products such as hydrogen peroxide in solutions with relatively low concentrations of electrolyte or other dissolved species at high efficiencies and/or low energetic cost. In some cases, redox mediators are used to spatially decouple direct electrochemical processes from the production of the chemical product.

Provided is a method for producing a compound represented by general formula (I) by oxidative cleavage of a compound of formula (II), which is a bicyclic tetrasubstituted olefin compound, using hydrogen peroxide. The method for producing a compound represented by general formula (I) includes a step of subjecting a compound represented by general formula (II) to oxidative cleavage using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid catalyst or in the presence of a tungstic acid compound to obtain the compound represented by general formula (I):

##STR00001##

[In the formulae, formula -A.sup.1- (where the front bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.1 while the back bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.2) is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms that may have been substituted and that may further include an ether bond, an ester bond, a secondary amino group, a thioether group, or these, and formula -A.sup.2- (where the front bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.1 while the back bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.2) is an alkylene group having 4 to 10 carbon atoms that may have been substituted and that may further include an ether bond, an ester bond, a secondary amino group, a thioether group, or these.]

Provided is a method for producing a compound represented by general formula (I) by oxidative cleavage of a compound of formula (II), which is a bicyclic tetrasubstituted olefin compound, using hydrogen peroxide. The method for producing a compound represented by general formula (I) includes a step of subjecting a compound represented by general formula (II) to oxidative cleavage using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid catalyst or in the presence of a tungstic acid compound to obtain the compound represented by general formula (I):

##STR00001##

[In the formulae, formula -A.sup.1- (where the front bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.1 while the back bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.2) is an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms that may have been substituted and that may further include an ether bond, an ester bond, a secondary amino group, a thioether group, or these, and formula -A.sup.2- (where the front bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.1 while the back bond denotes a bond that bonds with a carbon atom C.sup.2) is an alkylene group having 4 to 10 carbon atoms that may have been substituted and that may further include an ether bond, an ester bond, a secondary amino group, a thioether group, or these.]

A sterilization, disinfection, sanitization, or decontamination system having a chamber defining a region, and a generator for creating a free radical effluent with reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and other species and/or a vaporizer. A closed loop circulating system without a free-radical destroyer is provided for supplying the mixture of free radicals from the generator mixed with the hydrogen peroxide solution in the form of the effluent to the chamber. The system is used in sterilizing, disinfecting, sanitizing, or decontaminating items in the chamber or room and, with a wound chamber, in treating wounds on a body. The wound chamber may be designed to maintain separation from wounds being treated. Various embodiments can control moisture to reduce or avoid unwanted condensation. Some embodiments can be incorporated into an appliance having a closed space, such as a washing machine. Some embodiments may include a residual coating device that deposits a bactericidal coating on sterilized items.

An electrocatalyst for producing hydrogen peroxide solution on-demand via a 2-electron electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction in an acid electrolyte is synthesized from oxygen-functionalized nanostructured carbon and noble metal particles.

An electrocatalyst for producing hydrogen peroxide solution on-demand via a 2-electron electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction in an acid electrolyte is synthesized from oxygen-functionalized nanostructured carbon and noble metal particles.

A beeswax and/or beehive or bee keeping equipment surface is treated with a composition containing at least one solvent, at least one surfactant and at least one oxidizing agent (e.g., peroxide), optionally also containing other components such as an oxidizing agent activator, a viscosifying agent, an enzyme and/or a pH control agent, to reduce the amount of pesticide residues on the beeswax surface and/or disinfect against any bacterial, viruses, and fungi infestation.

A system and method for performing plasma reactions creating a plasma area in a gas adjacent to a liquid. An embodiment of the plasma reactor includes a housing with an internal reaction chamber, first and second inlet paths to the reaction chamber, and electrodes for producing an electric field. The system may optionally further include a pre-ionization electrode and pre-ionization electric field for pre-ionizing a feed gas prior to entry into a reaction chamber. The reactor uses plasma to ionize gas adjacent with the liquid. The ionized gas reacts with the liquid to form an effluent. Exemplary uses of the plasma reactor include ionic injection, gas dissociation, liquid re-formation, and liquid dissociation. An alternative embodiment provides a system and method for infusion of gaseous particles into liquid by applying an electric field at power levels lower than the voltage required to form a plasma to gas adjacent to liquid.

A system and method for performing plasma reactions creating a plasma area in a gas adjacent to a liquid. An embodiment of the plasma reactor includes a housing with an internal reaction chamber, first and second inlet paths to the reaction chamber, and electrodes for producing an electric field. The system may optionally further include a pre-ionization electrode and pre-ionization electric field for pre-ionizing a feed gas prior to entry into a reaction chamber. The reactor uses plasma to ionize gas adjacent with the liquid. The ionized gas reacts with the liquid to form an effluent. Exemplary uses of the plasma reactor include ionic injection, gas dissociation, liquid re-formation, and liquid dissociation. An alternative embodiment provides a system and method for infusion of gaseous particles into liquid by applying an electric field at power levels lower than the voltage required to form a plasma to gas adjacent to liquid.