The oxidation of hydrogen and deuterium on a rotating disk electrode
The oxidation of hydrogen and deuterium in alkaline solutions was studied by use of a rotating disk platinized platinum electrode. The variables investigated were KOH concentration, speed of rotation, electrode potential, and temperature. The rates for diffusion and ionization were determined. The currents decreased significantly as the KOH concentration was increased from 0.1 to 5.0 N. The product k = DS3/4, where D is the diffusion coefficient and S the solubility, was determined for hydrogen and deuterium. The ratio of the k values of H2 and D2 was 3.5 in 0.1 N KOH at 30° and 3.3 at 50°. The ratios decreased successively as the KOH concentration increased and in 5.0 N KOH were 1.5 and 1.4 at 30 and 50°, respectively. The ratio of the maximum hydrogen ionization current to the maximum deuterium ionization current in the absence of diffusion effects was 1.8 in 0.1 N KOH at 30° and decreased to 1.5 in 5.0 N KOH at 30°. An increase in temperature from 30 to 50° increased the ionization current in both cases but the hydrogen current increased at a faster rate than the deuterium current. The difference in the rate of oxidation between hydrogen and deuterium suggests that a separation of the isotopes during the ionization process is possible. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Electric Storage Battery Co., Yardley, Penn.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-010628
- OSTI ID:
- 4723282
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 67; ISSN 0022-3654
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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