Macrokinetic Study of the Electrochemical Synthesis Process of Sodium Dichromate

Abstract

AbstractIn order to address the problems existing in the traditional production techniques for sodium dichromate, a new green technology for producing sodium dichromate using an electrochemical synthesis method was studied. Using a self‐made electrosynthesis reactor composed of pure titanium and stainless steel, with a multiple‐unit metal oxide combination anode, a stainless steel cathode, and a reinforcing combination cation exchange membrane, the kinetic experiments were carried out on the direct electrochemical synthesis reaction of sodium dichromate from sodium chromate. The kinetic data were experimentally measured at different temperatures and different initial sodium chromate concentrations of anolyte. The results show that the electrochemical synthesis process presents complicated zero‐order reaction kinetic characteristics, with the reaction rate constant depending on the initial sodium chromate concentration. The macrokinetic equation of the electrochemical synthesis reaction was established, and some kinetic parameters were calculated. The apparent activation energy is less than that of the ordinary chemical reaction, and this shows that the electrochemical synthesis of sodium dichromate has great development potential.