COPLANAR INTERDIGITATED BAND ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROSYNTHESIS .2. METHOXYLATION OF FURAN

Four different platinum coplanar interdigitated band electrodes were screen printed on alumina and their roughness factors were determined by both electrochemical means and by scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the flow rate on the mass transport was investigated and compared with a classic parallel plate cell. The interdigitated printed electrodes were then used for the methoxylation of furan. It was shown that an excellent mass transport could be obtained in a tank reactor. Comparison with a pump cell or packed bed bipolar cell was made. When a 3 V potential difference was applied between an anode and a cathode separated by 250 mum, the current efficiency was 87% and the energy consumption was only 1.4 kW h kg-1. Furthermore, the synthesis was found to be very selective, with only one major byproduct.