Anodic Processes of Acetate Ion in Methanol and in Glacial Acetic Acid at Various Anode Materials

Abstract

The anodes used in this study were platinum, gold, palladium, lead dioxide, and graphite. The normal Kolbe process, the formation of ethane (and methane) and carbon dioxide, can be realized at a potential higher than 2.0v (vs. SCE) in both methanol and glacial acetic acid. In methanol, only platinum and gold seem to be suitable for realizing the process. In glacial acetic acid, however, all of the anodes except graphite can be used successfully for the same process. Another process, the formation of methyl acetate, occurs in both solvents at graphite in the potential range 1.4–2.0v. A side reaction observed in methanol at palladium, graphite, and lead dioxide was the formation of formaldehyde (and methyl formate in case of lead dioxide) which occurs at potentials as low as 1.2v.