NSF Award
8861461
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfields of electrocatalysis and electrochemical synthesis. A novel high surface area lead dioxide electrode will be prepared, characterized and employed in this Phase I research effort for a variety of organic electrochemical processes. High surface area carbons of high oxidation stability will be used as the substrate on which lead dioxide will be deposited from strongly acidic media. The effectiveness of the high surface area lead dioxide relative to that of planar lead dioxide will be evaluated for the regeneration of Cr(VI) and Ce(IV). The Cr(VI) and Ce(IV) will then be used for the "extra-cell" synthesis of naphthoquinone and anthraquinone. The number of stable, inexpensive, electrocatalytic anode materials available for the electrosynthesis of chemicals is quite limited. It is expected that the high surface area lead dioxide electrode will provide superior performance when compared to planar lead dioxide. The use of stable, inexpensive, high surface area lead dioxide anodes may provide higher selectivity and stability than presently utilized anodes, thereby allowing lower capital and operating costs for the electrochemical synthesis of various organic chemicals via regeneration of Cr(VI) and Ce(IV).
