Photoassisted electrolysis applied to coal gasification. Quarterly report, October 1-December 31, 1981

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5300549

Park, S M

During the second quarter of the current contract work, we have been continuing the literature search on electrochemistry of coal (Task 1), detailed studies on coal oxidation mechanisms (Task 2), and some preliminary work on photoassisted electrolysis of coal at the semiconductor thin film electrode (Task 3). Tasks 4 and 5 have not been initiated yet. We have also spent much of our time on ordering and purchasing equipment and chemicals and setting up the equipment. We expect to spend much time for this, since we still have not received the most important equipment - vacuum evaporator. Both Fe/sup +3/ and Ce/sup +4/ have been found to possess the necessary characteristics for electrocatalytic agents in the coal oxidation reaction. The potentials of the Fe/sup +2//Fe/sup +3/ and Ce/sup +3//Ce/sup +4/ couples are positive enough to react with oxidizable sites on the coal, both species are soluble to a large extent (at least in acid solution) and the reoxidation reaction at the electrode proceeds reasonably fast (k approx. = 10/sup -2/). Other species tested were the perchlorate, iodate and vanadate ions. Perchlorate and iodate showed no increase in current with coal when tested in 0.5 m K/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ at pH 8.0. Vanadate in acid solution gave an increase in oxidation current in the presence of coal but the reduced product could not be reoxidized. Preliminary work with illuminated n-type SnO/sub 2/ electrode demonstrated that coal is oxidized at this electrode, while water is reduced at the counter platinum electrode to produce hydrogen gas. However, the tin oxide electrode cannot be used for the solar radiation assisted photoelectrolysis cell due to its high band gap. (ATT)

• Research Organization: New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-81MC16377
• OSTI ID: 5300549
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/16377-T2; ON: DE82012376
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CERIUM
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
COAL
OXIDATION
PHOTOELECTROLYSIS
IODATES
IRON
PERCHLORATES
VANADATES
ANIONS
CATIONS
COAL GASIFICATION
ELECTRODES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PH VALUE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TIN OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DATA
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASIFICATION
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IODINE COMPOUNDS
IONS
LYSIS
MATERIALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE EARTHS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TIN COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VANADIUM COMPOUNDS
010600* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Properties & Composition
010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification