Electrochemical reduction of 2-ethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (EAQ) and mediated formation of hydrogen peroxide in a two-phase medium - Part I: Electrochemical behaviour of EAQ on a vitreous carbon rotating disc electrode (RDE) in the two-phase medium

The electrochemical reduction of 2-ethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (EAQ) has been examined by voltammetry on a vitreous carbon rotating disk electrode (RDE) in a two-phase medium, The medium consisted of an organic phase consisting of a mixture of tributylphosphate (TBP) and diethylbenzene (DEB)(15/85, vol/vol) and an aqueous phase, 2M NaOH. The ratio between the two phases was 40% for the organic phase and 60% for the aqueous phase. The electrochemical behaviour of EAQ in this medium was examined on a vitreous carbon RDE in the presence and absence of oxygen. The formation of hydrogen peroxide mediated by the electrochemical reduction of EAQ was studied analytically. The voltammetric results indicate that hydrogen peroxide formation mediated by the electrochemical reduction of EAQ is feasible.