Chem. J. Chinese Universities

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Electrooxidation of p-Methylphenol at Different Catalyst Electrodes

TIAN Mei1*, YANG Li-Juan1, CUI Rui-Hai1, ZHANG Heng-Bin2, HE Fang1, LIU Yan-Chun1   

    1. Physical Chemistry Laboractory, Harbin University, Harbin 150086, China;
    2. College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
  • Received:2008-03-10 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2008-11-10 Published:2008-11-10
  • Contact: TIAN Mei

Abstract: The electrocatalytic activity of Ti/PbO2, graphite and platinum electrodes for the electrooxidation of p-methylphenol was studied by linear sweeping voltammetry and galvanostatic electrolysis in an electrolytic cell without diaphragm. The conversion, degradation rate, reaction mechanism and rate determining steps of p-methylphenol at the three kinds of electrodes were explored by determinations of p-methylphenol and intermediates in the electrolyte before and after electrolysis. The experimental results indicate that Ti/PbO2 electrode with a high activity can effectively oxidize and remove p-methylphenol; graphite electrode can also oxidize p-methylphenol, but its removal ability was poor; platinum electrode can only oxidize p-methylphenol to hydroquinone in the electrolytic time of 3 h; p-methylphenol can not be oxidized completely. The mechanism of the electrooxidation degradation of p-methylphenol may be p-methylphenol→p-hydroxy-benmethanol→p-hydroxybenzaldehyde→p-hydroxybenzoic acid→hydroquinone→benzoquinone→maleic acid→oxalic acid, and the final product is CO2. The electrooxidation reactions of hydroquinone and maleic acid are the rate determining steps for Ti/PbO2 electrode, while the electrooxidation reaction of hydroquinone is a rate determining step for graphite electrode.

Key words: p-Methylphenol, Electrooxidation, Electrocatalysis, Reaction mechanism

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