Direct electrochemical hydrogenation of toluene at Pt electrodes in a microemulsion electrolyte solution

Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrated a new concept for the direct electrochemical hydrogenation of toluene using an acidic microemulsion electrolyte with active Pt electrodes to pave the way for efficient methylcyclohexane mass production. We have achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 80% for the toluene/methylcyclohexane conversion at a Pt black electrode, under galvanostatic conditions and in a one-compartment cell. The reaction rate and selectivity of the toluene reduction were found to depend strongly on the surface structure of the Pt electrodes.