A study on non-faradaic yields of anodic contact glow discharge electrolysis using cerous ion as the OH^• scavenger: An estimate of the primary yield of OH^• radicals

Abstract

Chemical yields of contact glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE) show strong deviations from faradaic behaviour. The products are novel for normal electrolysis and yields significantly exceed the Faraday law value. Anodic CGDE gives rise to Ce⁴⁺ and H₂O₂ in the anolyte in yields significantly exceeding the faradaic value besides the faradaic yield of O₂ . The relative yield of Ce⁴⁺ and H₂O₂ depends on the concentration of Ce³⁺ and the quantity of electricity passed. A kinetic analysis of the variation of the initial differentialyield of Ce⁴⁺,G<em>₀</em> (Ce⁴⁺ with the concentration of Ce³⁺ after applying certain approximations leads to an estimate of the generation of 12 moles of OH^• radicals in the liquid phase reaction zone of anodic CGDE for the passage of each mol electron of electricity.