The selective oxidation of alcohols into their corresponding carbonyl compounds is an essential component for many large scale industrial processes. In particular, the oxidative conversion of biomass products into industrial feedstocks has drawn recent attention as a means to produce useful commodity chemicals and polymers. The use of aqueous electrochemistry, rather than stoichiometric chemical oxidants, for selective alcohol oxidation is a promising approach to greener and less expensive chemical conversions. In this work, we explore use of iron-doped cobalt oxide catalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols. The activity and selectivity of each catalyst for benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde and/or benzoic acid in aqueous solutions is correlated to dopant concentration, applied potential, and solution pH. The information gained from these electrocatalytic studies will be used for the rational design of more selective and active catalysts in the future.

Electrocatalytic alcohol oxidation by Co(3-x)MxO4 catalysts

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.