Abstract
Benzene oxidation in sulfuric acid at a glassy carbon electrode was investigated using voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and spectroscopic methods. The results are compared with those at a Pt electrode. Benzene was observed to be oxidized to benzoquinone presumably by active oxygen that was adsorbed on the GC electrode in the oxygen evolution region. It is concluded that oxidation at glassy carbon can produce benzoquinone or quinone-like compounds from an aqueous benzene solution. The applied potential for benzene oxidation should be less than 2.1 V vs RHE in order to prevent glassy carbon electrode damage by oxidation during long operation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
K.T. Chuang, S. Cheng and S. Tong, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 31 (1992) 11.
A.J. Bard, W.M. Flarsheim and K.P. Johnston, J. Electrochem. Soc. 135 (1988) 8.
J.C. Farmer, F.T. Wang, R.A. Hawley-Fedder, P.R. Lewis, L.J. Summers and L. Foiles, J. Electrochem. Soc. 139 (1992) 654.
I. Yamanaka, T. Akimoto and K. Otsuka, Electrochim. Acta 39 (1994) 2545.
K. Otsuka, M. Kunieda and H. Yamgata, J. Electrochem. Soc. 139 (1992) 2381.
J.S. Clarker, R.E. Ehigamusoe and A.T. Kuhn, J. Electroanal. Chem. 70 (1976) 333.
M. Gattrell and D.W. Kirk, Canadian J. Chem. Eng. 68 (1990) 997.
A.J. Bard, W.M. Flarsheim and K.P. Jonston, J. Electrochem. Soc. 135 (1988) 1939.
S. Kihara, Z. Yoshida and H. Aoyagi, Bunseki Kagaku 40 (1991) 309.
K.W. Kim, E.H. Lee, J.H. Yoo, J. Appl. Electrochem. submitted.
H. Holden Throp, J. Chem. Educ. 69 (1992) 250.
A. Proctor and P.M.A. Sherwood, Carbon 21 (1983) 53.
A.L. Belilby, T.A. Sasaki and H.M. Stern, Anal. Chem. 67 (1995) 976.
Allen J. Bard, ‘Encyclopedia of Electrochemistry of Elements’, Vol. 7 (Marcel Dekker, New York, 1976).
I. Yamanaka and K. Otsuka, J. Electrochem. Soc. 138 (1991) 1033.
G.E. Cabaniss, A.A. Diamantis, W.R. Murphy, Jr., W. Linton, and T.J. Meyer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107 (1985) 1845.
S. Ferro, F. Lavezzo, G. Lodi and A. DeBattisti, Extended Abstracts of the Electrochemical Society 193rd meeting, San Diego, Vol. 98–1 (1998) 874.
V. Smith, De Sugre and A.P. Watkinson, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 59 (1981) 52.
M. Gattrell and D. W. Kirk, J. Electrochem. Soc. 140 (1993) 1534.
M. Watanabe and S. Motoo, J. Electroanal. Chem. 60 (1975) 267.
M. Kuppuswamy, MS thesis, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA (1998).
J. O'M Bockris, H. Wroblow, E. Gileadi and B. J. Piersma, Trans. Faraday Soc. 61 (1965) 2531.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, KW., Kuppuswamy, M. & Savinell, R. Electrochemical oxidation of benzene at a glassy carbon electrode. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 30, 543–549 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003822131632
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003822131632