COPLANAR INTERDIGITATED BAND ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROSYNTHESIS .2. METHOXYLATION OF FURAN

Four different platinum coplanar interdigitated band electrodes were s creen printed on alumina and their roughness factors were determined b y both electrochemical means and by scanning electron microscopy. The influence of the flow rate on the mass transport was investigated and compared with a classic parallel plate cell. The interdigitated printe d electrodes were then used for the methoxylation of furan. It was sho wn that an excellent mass transport could be obtained in a tank reacto r. Comparison with a pump cell or packed bed bipolar cell was made. Wh en a 3 V potential difference was applied between an anode and a catho de separated by 250 mum, the current efficiency was 87% and the energy consumption was only 1.4 kW h kg-1. Furthermore, the synthesis was fo und to be very selective, with only one major byproduct.