Electrochemical oxidation of phenol using boron-doped diamond electrodes

Boron-doped diamond electrodes prepared by chemical vapor deposition were u sed to determine if phenol could he oxidized to CO2. Cyclic voltammetry sho wed that phenol was oxidized by the diamond electrodes and remained electro active after multiple cycles. Experiments were also run with a flow cell in which 1 L of 10 mM phenol in 0.1 M H2SO4 was circulated through the cell a nd the total organic carbon (TOC) was monitored as a function of time and c ell current. The TOC in solution was reduced from similar to1% to <0.1% Wit h no observable decrease in decomposition rate. This means that the reacted phenol was converted completely to CO2. (C) 2001 The Electrochemical Socie ty. [DOI: 10.1149/1.1376638] All rights reserved.