Composite Electrodes Consisting of Metal and Oxidized Carbon Particles for Complete Degradation of Trichloroethylene in Acetonitrile

Abstract

Electrochemical degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was studied by flow‐through electrolysis in acetonitrile (AN). TCE was electrolyzed to acetylene in a quantitative yield at a composite electrode consisting of stainless steel (SS) and oxidatively pretreated glassy carbon (GCO) particles. On the GCO particle TCE was reduced to intermediate , which was further reduced to on the SS particle. Although SS was not active for TCE reduction, SS displayed higher activity for the reduction of than GCO. The activity of SS was attributed mainly to Ni and Cr atoms at the SS surface, but SS demonstrated higher activity than Ni and Cr in media. At potentials below −2.1 V vs. Ag|10 mM Ag+ (AN), TCE in 1% was converted to in a 100% yield.