Electrochemical oxidation of aniline at mono and bimetallic electrocatalysts supported on carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The electrochemical mineralization of aniline, a compound that causes serious environmental problems, was investigated at Pt, Pd and Ru-Cu catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The modified electrodes, based on commercial CNT samples, were prepared and dispersed onto Toray carbon (CT) using a Nafion/water solution. The electroreactivity of aniline at the electrocatalysts based on CNTs, and the kinetic parameters of the redox reactions, were determined using cyclic voltammetry. In order to determine the conditions that allow an efficient mineralization, the electrochemical oxidation of aniline was carried out in a membrane separated electrochemical cell. The reaction products were identified and quantified using chromatographic methods in order to evaluate the mineralization efficiency. The highest conversions were obtained with the Ru-Cu/CNT/CT modified electrode.