OXIDATION OF PHENOL TO BENZOQUINONE IN A CSTER WITH MODULATED ALTERNATING VOLTAGE

Recently, it has been shown that the low selectivity and slowness in the electrokinetics of electroorganic reactions can be improved by electrolysis using modulated alternating current (a.c.) or alternating voltage (a.v.). The use of a.v. to enhance the conversion of phenol to hydroquinone in an undivided batch electrochemical cell was described earlier. In the present study, a continuous stirred tank electrochemical reactor (CSTER), whose anode compartment is separated from the cathode compartment with a cell separator, is used to oxidize phenol to p-benzoquinone. This paper describes the experimental results of the effect of modulated sinusoidal a.v. on the reaction rate, the yield of p-benzoquinone and the energy requirements of the continuous electrooxidation process.