Bismuth(III) and Copper(II) Oxides as Catalysts for the Electro‐Oxidation of Organic Compounds

It was shown that copper(II) oxide bound to the anode with polystyrene containing a cationic surfactant acted as a catalyst for the oxidation of organic compounds in aqueous systems in a manner similar to powdered copper oxide suspended in aqueous systems containing the organic compounds and the cationic surfactant. Voltammetric measurements made with these electrodes were reproducible over an extended period of time, and it was possible to reproducibly use the polystyrene bound copper oxide as a catalyst for anodic destruction of several organic compounds. On the other hand, while bismuth(III) oxide bound to platinum with polystyrene was a catalyst for the oxidation of organic compounds in cationic surfactant suspensions, the results were not reproducible. The rate of renewal of the reactant adsorbed on the anode after oxidation was extremely slow. In addition, the Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} gradually changed during the catalytic reaction to BiO(OH). Both of the bismuth compounds acted as catalysts for the oxidation reaction, but the potential for oxidation of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} was less anodic than the potential for BiO(OH). Previous coulometric experiments have indicated clearly that the catalytic intermediate for the copper oxidations is copper(III); however, the coulometric oxidations of bismuth indicate that the intermediatemore » has a bismuth oxidation state slightly over 4. Most probably the intermediate is bismuth (V) and some of the bismuth had agglomerated so that not all of it has been oxidized.« less