Partial oxidation of alkanes and aromatics with activated oxygen over an SmCl 3-embedded graphite cathode

Abstract

Among the cathodes with various rare earth chlorides, SmCl 3-embedded graphite was the most active cathode for the oxidation of cyclohexane during a H 2O 2 fuel cell reaction. The cyclohexane oxidation was studied by means of kinetic and electrochemical techniques. The electrochemical reduction of O 2 over the cathode determines the current. However, the rate of oxidation of cyclohexane depends on the steady state concentration of the active oxygen generated electrochemically on the cathode. This active oxygen also oxidized n-hexane, benzene and toluene. The active oxygen exhibits electrophilic reactivity for these substrates. The reaction between the active oxygen and the substrate was suggested to occur non-electrochemically.