Electrochemistry of Coal Slurries: II . Studies on Various Experimental Parameters Affecting Oxidation of Coal Slurries

Abstract

The anodic oxidation of coal slurries has been studied under various experimental conditions. Results obtained from various experiments support the mechanism of the catalytic oxidation of coal slurries by iron (III) in solution, followed by the oxidation of reduced iron (II) to iron (III) at the electrode. The oxidation of coal slurries by iron (III) in solution is found to be a first‐order process with respect to both reactants, i.e., coal and iron (III), from concentration dependency studies, indicating that the overall reaction may consist of a sequence of one‐election transfers. It may also be concluded from various experimental results that the electrolysis reaction proceeds through the sequential formation, first of carbon oxides on the coal surface, and then of carbon dioxide as a final product. Of various catalyst oxidants studied, bromine and cerium (IV) appear to have the largest pseudo first‐order catalytic rate constants with and , respectively. Redox potentials of the catalyst pairs appear to be the most important parameter in determining catalytic reaction rates.