Synergistic effects of nanozeolite beta-MWCNTs on the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol: Experimental design by response surface methodology

Abstract

In this work, the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) in the alkaline medium was investigated by the modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) with nanozeolite beta(NZB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) ion-exchanged with Ni(II) cations. The oxidation peak current of EG was increased dramatically at the Ni(OH)2-NZB-MW/CPE surface against Ni(OH)2/CPE, Ni(OH)2-NZB/CPE and Ni(OH)2-MW/CPE. The effects of NZB%, MWCNTs%, NaOH concentration and Ni(II) loading time were considered on the electrochemical response of EG electro-oxidation based on response surface methodology. Results from this method indicated that 10.2% of NZB, 10.2% of MWCNTs in the matrix of fabricated NZB-MW/CPE, 1.6 M NaOH as supporting electrolyte and 16 min loading time of Ni(II) results in the maximum current density. The results indicate that Ni(OH)2-NZB-MW/CPE reveals good electrocatalytic activity toward EG oxidation displaying a suitable stability.