Electropolymerization of phenol on a vitreous carbon electrode in alkaline aqueous solution at different temperatures

Electrochemical oxidation of phenol in basic aqueous solution has been studied on a vitreous carbon electrode at different temperatures in the range of 25–85 °C by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The electrochemical oxidation of phenol led to a complete deactivation of the electrode, whatever the temperature used, as a result of the deposition of an adhesive and insulating polymeric film. The electrochemical activity of the electrode was progressively restored by repeated potential scans in the range of water stability only when conducted at high temperatures; electrode reactivation was explained by an increase in the polymeric film permeability for both electrons (electron tunneling) and phenol molecules (diffusion). Chronoamperometric measurements carried out in the potential region of water stability have shown that electrode passivation was reduced or prevented at high temperatures. For chronoamperometry performed at the onset of oxygen evolution, the electrode remained active even at low temperatures because the discharge of water involved the production of hydroxyl radicals that destructively oxidized the polymeric film. The effect of temperature on electrode reactivation was determined by the measurement of current at an electrolysis time of 300 s; an increase of the temperature from 25 to 85 °C amplified the current from 0.212 to 5.373 mA

Effect of electropolymerisation conditions on the permeability of polyphenol films deposited on a vitreous carbon electrode

Polymeric films were prepared from alkaline (NaOH) phenol aqueous solutions on a vitreous carbon (VC) electrode by potentiostatic or galvanostatic electro-oxidation. Permeation through such films was studied by rotating-disk electrode using the ferricyanide redox couple, and by cyclic voltammetry using phenate ions. The influence of the electropolymerisation controllable parameters such as NaOH and phenol concentrations, potential or current applied, electrosynthesis time, temperature and hydrodynamic conditions (electrode rotation + solution magnetic stirring) on the permeability of these polymeric films was examined. Conditions for the removal of phenol by electropolymerisation are discussed on the basis of the permeability of polyphenol films obtained by electrosynthesis. Permeable films were formed for a concentration of free hydroxyl anion larger of 0.1 M. An increase of the temperature to 85°C favours the formation of highly permeable films, thus avoiding electrode fouling

Electrochemical removal of phenol in alkaline solution. Contribution of the anodic polymerization on different electrode materials

The removal of organic pollutants based on electropolymerization on an anode was performed in the case of phenol in alkaline solution. The polymer formed by a process involving less than two electrons per molecule of phenol, is then precipitated by decreasing the pH and finally filtered and disposed. The electrochemical polymerization of phenol (C0 = 0.105M) in alkaline solution (pH = 13) at 86 ◦C has been studied by galvanostatic electrolysis, using a range of anode materials characterized by different O2-overpotentials (IrO2, Pt and B-PbO2). Measurements of total organic carbon and HPLC have been used to follow phenol oxidation; the morphology of the polymer deposited on the electrode surface has been examined by SEM. Experimental data indicate that phenol concentration decreases by oxidation according to a first order reaction suggesting a mass transport limitation process. Polymeric films formed in alkaline solution did not cause the complete deactivation of the anodes. SEM results show that the polymeric films formed on Ti/IrO2 and Pt anodes cannot be mineralized. On the other hand, complex oxidation reactions leading to the partial incineration of polymeric materials can take place on the Ta/B-PbO2 surface due to electrogenerated HO• radicals which have an oxidizing power much higher than that of intermediaries formed respectively on IrO2 and Pt. It is assumed that the polymer films formed on these anodes have different permeability characteristics which determine the rate of mass transfer of the phenol. The fractions of phenol converted in polymers were 25, 32 and 39% respectively with Ti/IrO2, Pt and Ta/B-PbO2, a series of materials in which the O2-overvoltage increases

Influence of temperature and applied potential on the permeability of polyphenol films prepared on vitreous carbon in acid and alkaline media

The electrochemical polymerization of phenol is known to rapidly produce a thin insulating film at the anode surface. This film generally blocks further polymerization. The objective of this study is to show that, depending on the operating conditions, polymeric films resulting from phenol oxidation present different properties and that certain films can be so porous that they allow the oxidation of phenol to continue. The deposition of polyphenol films with improved permeability could be attractive in the removal of phenol from polluted solutions. Polyphenol films were prepared in aqueous solution on a vitreous carbon anode either by cyclic voltammetry or by electro-oxidation at constant potential. The apparent permeability P (%) of the films prepared by these techniques was evaluated by monitoring changes in the electrode response towards phenol and potassium ferricyanide at 25 and 85°C and as a function of the potential applied during electropolymerization performed either in acidic (1 mol L-¹H₂SO₄) or in alkaline (1 mol L-¹ NaOH) aqueous solution. It was shown that: (1) the polyphenol film electrosynthesized in alkaline medium was more permeable than that prepared in acidic medium, (2) the apparent permeability was higher when the polyphenol film was electrosynthesized with simultaneous oxygen evolution and (3) the use of a high temperature in the polyphenol film preparation, especially in the presence of a concomitant oxygen evolution, significantly enhanced its apparent permeability (P ≥ 100 %). These results are interpreted in terms of a mixed-transport mechanism involving both pore and membrane diffusion. The effect of the permeability of the polymeric film on the removal of phenol from aqueous solution by electropolymerization is discussed

Influence of temperature and applied potential on the permeability of polyphenol films prepared on vitreous carbon in acid and alkaline media

The electrochemical polymerization of phenol is known to rapidly produce a thin insulating film at the anode surface. This film generally blocks further polymerization. The objective of this study is to show that, depending on the operating conditions, polymeric films resulting from phenol oxidation present different properties and that certain films can be so porous that they allow the oxidation of phenol to continue. The deposition of polyphenol films with improved permeability could be attractive in the removal of phenol from polluted solutions. Polyphenol films were prepared in aqueous solution on a vitreous carbon anode either by cyclic voltammetry or by electro-oxidation at constant potential. The apparent permeability P (%) of the films prepared by these techniques was evaluated by monitoring changes in the electrode response towards phenol and potassium ferricyanide at 25 and 85°C and as a function of the potential applied during electropolymerization performed either in acidic (1 mol L-¹H₂SO₄) or in alkaline (1 mol L-¹ NaOH) aqueous solution. It was shown that: (1) the polyphenol film electrosynthesized in alkaline medium was more permeable than that prepared in acidic medium, (2) the apparent permeability was higher when the polyphenol film was electrosynthesized with simultaneous oxygen evolution and (3) the use of a high temperature in the polyphenol film preparation, especially in the presence of a concomitant oxygen evolution, significantly enhanced its apparent permeability (P ≥ 100 %). These results are interpreted in terms of a mixed-transport mechanism involving both pore and membrane diffusion. The effect of the permeability of the polymeric film on the removal of phenol from aqueous solution by electropolymerization is discussed

Electrochemical polymerisation of phenol in aqueous solution on a Ta/PbO2 anode

This paper deals with the treatment of aqueous phenol solutions using an electrochemical technique. Phenol can be partly eliminated from aqueous solution by electrochemically initiated polymerisation. Galvanostatic electrolyses of phenol solutions at concentration up to 0.1 mol dm−3 were carried out on a Ta/PbO2 anode. The polymers formed are insoluble in acidic medium but soluble in alkaline. These polymers were filtered and then dissolved in aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (1 mol dm−3). The polymers formed were quantified by total organic carbon (TOC) measurement. It was found that the conversion of phenol into polymers increases as a function of initial concentration, anodic current density, temperature, and solution pH. The percentage of phenol polymerised can reach 15%

Sol-gel processing of highly transparent conducting Cd

Polycrystalline thin films of cadmium stannate (Cd2SnO4) (CTO) were coated on corning glass substrates by sol-gel method. The films were fired at different temperatures and annealed in inert ambient (N2) at 680°C. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of dip-coated cadmium-tin-oxide (CTO) thin films are discussed. CTO layers with a Hall mobility of 30 cm2/Vs and a carrier density of 1.4 × 1021 cm−3 resulting in a resistivity of 5 × 10−4 Ω cm have been deposited. Dip-coating conditions must be carefully monitored to produce consistent films. The high electronic conductivity is due to two effective mechanisms of n-type doping: (i) stoichiometric deviation and (ii) self-doping

Electrochemical treatment of wastewater containing toxic organic substances

A review with 15 refs. with application examples, including mechanism of electrochem. oxidn. of org. compds. in aq. soln., anodic oxidn. of phenol over PbO2, characteristic parameters of electrochem. treatment, and economic considerations. [on SciFinder (R)