IN-SITU OXIDATIVE-DEGRADATION OF FORMALDEHYDE WITH HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE ELECTROGENERATED ON THE MODIFIED GRAPHITES

The cathodic reduction of oxygen and the degradation of formaldehyde w ith hydrogen peroxide electrogenerated in situ was studied at graphite and modified graphite as cathodes. The peak current of the cathodic r eduction of oxygen increased significantly when anodically treated gra phite and graphite modified with 2,3,7,8,12 13,17 18-octaethyl-21H,23H -porphyrine cobalt (Co(II)OTP) were used as cathodes, respectively. Th e current density for the oxidative degradation of formaldehyde was si gnificantly increased when graphite was replaced by anodized graphite as the cathode. Using anodized graphite as cathode, the degradation fr actions of the formaldehyde were 99.6 and 98.3% in divided and undivid ed cells, respectively.