ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF THIOUREA STUDIED BY USE OF IN-SITU FTIR SPECTROSCOPY

The electrochemical oxidation of thiourea on a Pt electrode was studie d at different potentials by use of voltammetry and in situ FTIR spect roscopy. It was found that during the first step the thiourea could be oxidized to the c,c'-dithiodiformamidinium ion in 1 M NaCl solution. It could be further oxidized at higher potentials to produce cyanamide , HSO4- and SO42- ions through an electrocatalytic oxidation process o f chemisorbed sulphur taken on the surface of the platinum electrode.