Biomass depolarized water electrolysis

Conference · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6528708

John, M R; Furgala, A J; Sammelle, A F

To gain some appreciation for the utility of glucose as an anode depolarizing agent for electrolytic hydrogen generation, cyclic voltammograms (CV) were performed on glucose in a variety of aqueous sulfuric acid electrolytes. Cyclic voltammograms at a scan rate of 5 mV/s were compared for 12 weight percent sulfuric acid, both with and without 100 grams/liter of glucose present over the potential range -700 to +800 mV versus the mercury/mercury sulfate (12 weight percent H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/) reference electrode (+670 mV versus reversible hydrogen) at 23/sup 0/C. The working electrode used was platinized platinum. In the absence of glucose, the CV showed the well documented surface changes occurring on platinum upon cycling between those voltage limits. Upon addition of the glucose, three new oxidation peaks were identified. At ambient temperature, these were a weak broad peak beginning at -254 mV, a sharp intense peak at +50 mV, and a large peak at +571 mV, all potentials being measured versus mercury/mercury sulfate. Previous work has suggested that the broad peak at -254 mV is probably an electrode surface reaction and, as a consequence, is not compatible for a sustained glucose oxidation reaction as would be necessary if this reaction were to be used to lower the cell potential for water electrolysis. At ambient temperatures, peak current densities of 15 mA/cm/sup 2/ were recorded at +50 mV for a sweep rate of 5 mV/s. Upon changing the electrolyte temperature to 92/sup 0/C, peak current densities at +50 and +510 mV for glucose oxidation increased, respectively, to 140 and 217 mA/cm/sup 2/. Upon increasing the electrolyte temperature, the initial sharp glucose oxidation peak observed at +50 mV under ambient conditions were observed to broaden into possibly two peaks over the voltage range of -50 mV to +100 mV.

• Research Organization: Inst. of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL
• OSTI ID: 6528708
• Report Number(s): CONF-820304-
• Journal Information: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 27:1; Conference: 183. American Chemical Society annual meeting, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 27 Mar 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
ELECTROLYSIS
ANODES
BIOMASS
DEPOLARIZATION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
GLUCOSE
MERCURY SULFATES
OXIDATION
SULFURIC ACID
ALDEHYDES
CARBOHYDRATES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY SOURCES
HEXOSES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LYSIS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SACCHARIDES
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
080101* - Hydrogen- Production- Electrolysis