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Title: Palladium-assisted electrodehalogenation of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane on lead cathodes combined with hydrogen diffusion anodes

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1838086· OSTI ID:564077
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. de Barcelona (Spain)
  2. Sociedad Espanola de Carburos Metalicos, Barcelona (Spain)

In this work, the efficiency and product formation in the electroreduction of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC 113) to obtain completely dechlorinated products has been studied using constant-current electrolysis at different current densities, gas chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray. While chlorotrifluoroethene was the main product obtained from CFC 113 in MeOH-water solutions containing NH{sub 4}Cl, different and suitable conditions which lead to its complete dechlorination are described in this paper. In the presence of small amounts of Pd{sup 2+} in solution, a very thin film of Pd black was electrodeposited on the Pb cathode and the efficiency of the CFC 113 electroreduction was about 98%. The efficiency was much smaller and the product composition very different in the absence of Pd{sup 2+} in solution, even in the presence of Pd black electrodeposited on the cathode. In the presence of Pd{sup 2+}, the main products in the gas were difluoroethene and trifluoroethene. Small amounts of 1,2-dichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane, chlorotrifluoroethene, difluoroethane, and fluoroethane were also present in the gas phase. The liquid composition was enriched in the less volatile compounds. A possible reaction pathway involving the removal of halides by successive reactions is discussed. The anode employed in these experiments was a thin Pd foil with electrodeposited Pd black, which permitted hydrogen diffusion and its further oxidation to H{sup +}. Because of this reaction, contamination of the working electrolyte by other oxidation products such as Cl{sub 2} or MeOH derivatives were avoided. This system allows new electrosynthetic processes along with CFC electrodegradation.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
564077
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 144, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English