Electrochemical Oxidation of Certain Hydrocarbons and Carbon Monoxide in Dilute Sulfuric Acid

For the hydrocarbons methane through heptane, ethylene, and carbon monoxide anodic potential/current density curves were measured in a galvanostatic half‐cell arrangement. Raney platinum proved to be an active catalyst for the conversion of the hydrocarbons. In at 100°C a stationary current density of 200 ma/cm2 was measured for ethane, propane, butane, ethylene, and carbon monoxide, and 100 ma/cm2 for methane and pentane. By coulometric analyses the conversion of methane, ethane, and propane to was found to be 100%. Complete conversion of butane, pentane, hexane, and heptane apparently requires conditions different from those employed here. In potential oscillations with time were observed, which were caused by partial poisoning of the electrode on reduction of to and the subsequent self‐regeneration of the electrode.