Parallel paired electrolysis of green oxidizing agents by the combination of a gas diffusion cathode and boron-doped diamond anode

Abstract

The generation of “green” oxidizing agents by electrochemical synthesis opens the field for sustainable, on-demand, and on-site production, which is often based on non-critical starting materials. In this study, electrosyntheses were carried out on different cathode and anode materials. In half-cell experiments, the cathodic synthesis of peracetic acid (PAA) was investigated on gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), reaching 22.6 mmol L⁻¹ of PAA with a current efficiency (CE) of 7.4%. Moreover, peroxodicarbonate (PODIC^®) was produced anodically on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes with concentrations as high as 42.7 mmol L⁻¹ PODIC^®  and a CE of 30.3%. Both cathodic and anodic processes were individually examined and improved. Finally, the half-cell reactions were combined as a proof of concept in a parallel paired electrolysis cell for the first time to achieve an increased overall CE.