Electrochemical oxidation of benzene at a glassy carbon electrode

Benzene oxidation in sulfuric acid at a glassy carbon electrode was investi gated using voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and spectroscopic methods. Th e results are compared with those at a Pt electrode. Benzene was observed t o be oxidized to benzoquinone presumably by active oxygen that was adsorbed on the GC electrode in the oxygen evolution region. It is concluded that o xidation at glassy carbon can produce benzoquinone or quinone-like compound s from an aqueous benzene solution. The applied potential for benzene oxida tion should be less than 2.1 V vs RHE in order to prevent glassy carbon ele ctrode damage by oxidation during long operation.