An electrochemical Study of Phenol Oxidation in Acidic Medium

Abstract

This work addresses the electrooxidation of phenol on platinum electrodes applying cyclic voltametry. The effect of different parameters on the electrooxidation of phenol, such as the scan rate, the inversion potential, the phenol concentration, the sulphuric acid concentration, and the stirring of the solution, were investigated using a conventional three-electrode cell. The results show the presence of an oxidation peak in the region around 1V vs Ag/AgCl to all conditions evaluated. In cyclic voltametric experiments a gradual decrease of the oxidation peak with the number of cycles was observed, and after about four cycles there was no more evidence of a peak. This behavior was repeated for all phenol and sulphuric acid concentrations studied. This suggests the deactivation or blockage of the electrode surface by the adsorption of substances and/or phenoxy radical polymerization.