AbstractElectrocatalytic oxidation of formaldehyde was investigated on copper electrode in alkaline solution. The process of oxidation involved and its kinetics were established by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry as well as steady state polarization measurements. In cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies, in the presence of formaldehyde the peak current increase of the oxidation of Cu(III) is followed by a decrease in the corresponding cathodic current. A new mechanism based on the electrochemical generation of Cu(III) active sites and their subsequent consumption by the formaldehyde in question was also investigated.