ACRYLALDEHYDE PRODUCTION FROM PROPENE ON INERT GOLD ELECTRODE USING AN ELECTROCHEMICAL MEMBRANE REACTOR WITH (CEO2)(0.8)(SMO1.5)(0.2) ELECTROLYTE

The partial oxidation of propene to acrylaldehyde on an inert gold ele ctrode was studied at 350-450 degrees C in an electrochemical membrane reactor using (CeO2)(0.8)(SmO1.5)(0.2) as a solid electrolyte. This m aterial has a high ionic conductivity at low temperatures. On applying a direct current to the reaction cell, acrylaldehyde was formed at th e gold anode. The formation rate of acrylaldehyde increased linearly w ith increasing current density. It is likely that propene was oxidized to acrylaldehyde by the oxygen species produced electrochemically at the triple phase boundary of the gold-electrolyte-gas phase. These res ults indicate that (CeO2)(0.8)(SmO1.5)(0.2) is an attractive candidate for use in an electrochemical reactor for the partial oxidation of pr opene to acrylaldehyde at relatively low temperatures.