Kolbe electrolysis of mixtures of aliphatic organic acids

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2115697· OSTI ID:5235090

Levy, P F; Cheng, L K; Sanderson, J E

Kolbe electrolysis of mixtures of n-butanoic with n-hexanoic acid and propranoic with n-hexanoic acid have been performed in aqueous solution at a smooth platinum anode. Typically, hexane production by the oxidation of butanoic acid, or butane production from propanoic acid, in aqueous solution is not observed to exceed a few percent In the current work, significant increases of these products were observed. In addition, a substantial fraction of the remaining C/sub 3/ or C/sub 4/ acids reacted were converted to mixed alkane dimers with hexanoic acid. These results are interpreted by a model in which n-hexanoic acid and its various oxidation products form a lipophilic layer at the anode surface which provides an environment where further oxidation to carbonium ions is disfavored. This model has been suggested previously to explain pressure effects on Kolbe electrolysis. This observation supports the feasibility of producing mixed linear alkanes for use as fuels and chemicals from mixed organic acids which may be produced by anaerobic fermentation of organic matter.

• Research Organization: Dynatech R/D Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 5235090
• Journal Information: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 131:4; ISSN JESOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090121* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALKANES
ANODES
BIOCONVERSION
BUTANE
BUTYRIC ACID
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
FERMENTATION
HEXANE
HEXANOIC ACID
HYDROCARBONS
LYSIS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDATION
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PRODUCTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS