METHACROLEIN PRODUCTION FROM ISO-BUTANE USING A AU-VERTICAL-BAR-YTTRIA-STABILIZED ZIRCONIA-VERTICAL-BAR-AG ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTION CELL

The partial oxidation of iso-butane to methacrolein over an inert gold electrode was studied at 425 to 475 degrees C, in an electrochemical membrane reactor using yttria-stabilized zirconia as a solid electroly te. On applying an external current to the reaction cell, methacrolein was formed at the gold anode with a selectivity of 13 to 19%, dependi ng on the reaction conditions. The formation rate of methacrolein incr eased linearly with the applied current, while no methacrolein was for med when dioxygen was used as the oxidant. This indicates that iso-but ane is oxidized to methacrolein by oxygen species produced electrochem ically at the gold-YSZ-gas-phase three-phase boundary.